Centre Notifies Appointment Of Acting Chief Justices Of Kerala HC And Telangana HC

The Ministry of Law and Justice has notified the appointment of Acting Chief Justices of the Kerala High Court and Telangana High Court.

The following have been appointed as Chief Justices:

• Justice Alexander Thomas, Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. 
• Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao, Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. 

Justice Alexander Thomas

Justice Alexander Thomas was born on September 4, 1961, and served as a Senior Government Pleader in the Kerala High Court from 1998 to 2001. He was appointed as the Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court on January 23, 2014. He was appointed as Legal Retainer & Standing Counsel for Railway Ministry from 2004 to 2007 as well as served as Standing Counsel & Legal Retainer for Kerala Public Service Commission from 2007 to 2011.

The notification dated July 13, 2023, reads, “In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Alexander Thomas, seniormost Judge of the Kerala High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from the date Shri Justice S. Venkatanarayana Bhatti relinquishes the charge as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court consequent upon his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India”.

Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao

Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao graduated from Nizam College and obtained a law degree from the University of Delhi in 1986. He was appointed as an Additional Judge in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on April 12, 2013. He was appointed as a permanent Judge of the High Court at Hyderabad for the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh on September 8, 2014.

The notification dated July 13, 2023, reads, “In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao, senior-most Judge of the Telangana High Court to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from the date Shri Justice Ujjal Bhuyan relinquishes the charge as ChiefJustice of the Telangana High Court upon his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. Consequent upon superannuation of Shri Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao on 14.07.2023, Shri Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili, the senior-most puisne Judge of the High Court of Telangana will perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Telangana”.

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