The Supreme Court Collegium comprising of Dr Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice B.R. Gavai, on 27-12-2023 passed Resolutions recommending names for the vacant posts of Chief Justice for the High Courts of Allahabad, Gauhati, Jharkhand, Punjab and Haryana and Rajasthan.
The office of Chief Justice in the afore-stated High Courts became vacant as the former Chief Justices had either retired or were elevated to the Supreme Court.
The recommended names are as follows-
Allahabad High Court
Justice Arun Bhansali, Judge, Rajasthan High Court, has been recommended as the next Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad has arisen consequent upon the retirement of Justice Pritinker Diwaker.
The Collegium recommended the name of Justice Bhansali keeping in mind his vast experience, competency, and sound legal acumen. The Collegium also pointed out that Justice Bhansali’s elevation will mean that Rajasthan High Court will be represented by two Chief Justices among the Chief Justices of the High Courts, as the Collegium has also recommended the appointment of Justice Vijay Bishnoi as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
Gauhati High Court
Justice Vijay Bishnoi, Judge, Rajasthan High Court, has been recommended as the next Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court.
Former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Sandeep Mehta was elevated to the Supreme Court and as result, the post of Chief Justice had fallen vacant.
In recommending Justice Bishnoi’s name, the Collegium considered his experience as an advocate and as Judge of Rajasthan High Court. The Collegium further noted that Justice Bishnoi has maintained a high order of professional ethics at the Bar and the Bench, and his conduct and integrity are beyond reproach.
Jharkhand High Court
Justice B R Sarangi, Judge, High Court of Orissa has been recommended as next Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.
With the High Court’s former Chief Justice, Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra having retired on 28-12-2023, the post has become vacant.
Justice Sarangi was elevated as a Judge of the High Court of Orissa after completing 27 years of regular practice at the Bar before the High Court of Orissa and the Supreme Court. He has acquired considerable experience in dispensing justice in the High Court.
While considering his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that after the retirement of Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, there would be no representation of the High Court of Orissa among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
Punjab and Haryana High Court
Justice Sheel Nagu, Judge, High Court of Madhya Pradesh has been recommended as next Chief Justice of High Court of Punjab and Haryana.
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana had arisen consequent upon the retirement of Justice Ravi Shanker Jha.
Before his elevation as a Judge of the High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu practised at the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Constitutional, service, labour and criminal cases. During his tenure of over 12 years as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Nagu has authored more than 499 reported judgments and has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice at the High Court.
The Collegium noted that Justice Nagu is the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court and pointed out that he is considered to be a competent Judge and possesses a high level of integrity and conduct required of a person holding high judicial office.
Rajasthan High Court
Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, Judge, Rajasthan High Court, has been recommended as the next Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court.
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court had arisen on elevation of Justice Augustine George Masih to the Supreme Court.
Justice Shrivastava was elevated as a Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on 10-12-2009. On 18-10-2021, he was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court and is presently functioning as Acting Chief Justice. Before his elevation as a Judge of the High Court, Justice Shrivastava practised at the District Court, Raigarh, High Court of Madhya Pradesh and High Court of Chhattisgarh. His area of practice was Constitutional, service, taxation, labour, civil and criminal cases with specialization in constitutional, taxation and service law. Justice Shrivastava was also designated as Senior Advocate by the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
While considering his name, the Collegium took into consideration the fact that the High Court of Chhattisgarh which is Justice Shrivastava’s parent High Court, does not have any representation among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
