Supreme Court: Supreme Court Collegium comprising of Dr. Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, CJI, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sanjiv Khanna, JJ. has recommended the names of the following Judges as Chief Justices of different High Courts:
➢ Justice Subhasis Talapatra recommended as the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court would arise in August 2023 consequent upon retirement of Justice Dr. S Muralidhar. Therefore, the Collegium proposed to recommend the name of Justice Subhasis Talapatra the senior-most Judge from the Tripura High Court, for appointment as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
He was elevated as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 15-11-2011 and on establishment of a separate High Court for Tripura in 2013 he opted the Tripura High Court as his parent High Court. He has been transferred to the Orissa High Court since 10-06-2022.
The Collegium noted that he has acquired considerable experience of dispensing justice in two High Courts. While considering his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that Tripura High Court, since its inception in 2013, has not got representation among the Chief Justices of the High Courts. Thus, having regard to all the relevant factors, the Collegium viewed that Justice Subhasis Talapatra is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
➢ Justice Ashish J Desai of Gujarat High Court recommended as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court would arise consequent upon elevation of Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti to the Supreme Court in terms of the separate recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium. Therefore, the Collegium proposed to appoint Justice Ashish J Desai as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.
The Collegium noted that he was appointed as a Judge of the Gujarat High Court on 21-11-2011. Thus, he has acquired experience of more than 11 years in dispensing justice in a large High Court. Further, he is the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court and is currently performing the duties as the acting Chief Justice of that High Court. While recommending his name, the Collegium considered the fact that the Gujarat High Court, presently, has no representation among the Chief Justices of the High Court.
Thus, the Collegium viewed that Justice Desai is suitable for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.
➢ Justice Sunita Agarwal of Allahabad High Court recommended as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court has arisen consequent upon the retirement of Justice Sonia G Gokani. Therefore, the Collegium proposed to appoint Justice Sunita Agarwal as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
The Collegium noted that She was appointed as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court on 21-11-2011 and is now the senior-most puisne Judge in her parent High Court. She has been functioning there since her elevation and has acquired experience of more than 11 years in dispensing justice in the largest High Court in the country.
Thus, the Collegium viewed that Justice Sunita Agarwal is suitable for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
➢ Justice Alok Aradhe of Karnataka High Court recommended as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court would arise consequent upon the elevation of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan to the Supreme Court in terms of the separate recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium. Therefore, the Collegium proposed to appoint Justice Alok Aradhe as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
The Collegium noted that he was appointed as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 29-12-2009 and is now a senior puisne Judge in his parent High Court. He was transferred to Karnataka High Court in November 2018 and has acquired experience of more than 13 years in dispensing justice in two large High Courts.
Thus, the Collegium viewed that Justice Alok Aradhe is fit and suitable for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
➢ Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Judge Allahabad High Court recommended as the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court has arisen recently consequent upon retirement of Justice Ramesh D Dhanuka. Therefore, the Collegium proposed to appoint Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
The Collegium noted that he was appointed as a Judge of the Allahabad High Court on 21-11-2011 and is now a senior puisne Judge in his parent High Court. He has been functioning there since his elevation and has acquired experience of more than 11 years in dispensing justice in the largest High Court in the country. Further, on appointment of Justice Upadhyaya, the Allahabad High Court which is the largest High Court with a total judge strength of 160 would get adequate representation among the Chief Justices of High Courts.
Thus, the Collegium viewed that Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya is fit and suitable for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
➢ Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Judge Bombay High Court recommended as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court arose on 19-05 2023 consequent upon the elevation of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra to the Supreme Court. Therefore, the Collegium proposed to appoint Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The Collegium noted that he was appointed as a Judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court 08-03-2013 and is now the senior-most Judge in his parent High Court. In the interest of better administration of justice, he was transferred to the Bombay High Court in June 2022 and has been functioning there since then.
The Collegium said that his recommendation for elevation as Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court of Manipur was made on 09-02-2023 and has been pending with the Government. On appointment of Justice Thakur, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court would get representation amongst the Chief Justices of the High Court.
Thus, the Collegium in supersession of its recommendation dated 09-02-2023, viewed that Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur is fit and suitable for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
➢ Justice Siddharth Mridul, Judge Delhi High Court recommended as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court arose in February 2023, consequent upon the elevation of Justice P V Sanjay Kumar to the Supreme Court of India. Therefore, the Collegium on 09-02-2023 made a recommendation for elevation of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court which has been pending with the Government. Now, the Collegium has, vide a separate resolution, recommended that Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur be appointed as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Further, proposed to appoint Justice Siddharth Mridul as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court
The Collegium noted that Justice Siddharth Mridul was appointed as a Judge of the Delhi High Court on 13-03-2008 and has been functioning as the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court. Thus, the Collegium viewed that he is fit and suitable for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
