SC Collegium recommends the appointment of seven additional judges and a judicial officer as permanent judges of the Jharkhand, Kerala, and Calcutta HCs
On January 18, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium recommends the appointment of seven additional judges and one judicial officer as permanent judges of the Jharkhand High Court, Calcutta High Court, and Kerala High Court. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice BR Gavai issued various resolutions while recommending the names for elevation as judges in the above-mentioned three High Courts.
Judicial Officer Arun Kumar Rai has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Jharkhand HC. On May 05, 2012, Shri Arun Kumar Rai joined the judicial service. Before joining the service, he practices at the Bar for more than 15 years in Delhi at the trial courts and High Court on the criminal and civil sides. While recommending his name, the SC Collegium observed, “Our sole consultee-colleague has opined that the officer is suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court. The Judgment Evaluation Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of the High Court has rated the quality of judgments authored by him as “Good”. He has consistently been rated as a “Very Good” officer in his ACRs throughout his entire career.” The resolution reads, “The Collegium is of the considered view that Shri Arun Kumar Rai is suitable for appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand.”
Additional Judge Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava has been recommended for appointment as a permanent judge of the Jharkhand HC. While recommending his name, the Collegiums said, “With a view to assess the merit and suitability of Shri Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava for appointment as a permanent Judge, we have scrutinized and evaluated the material placed on record. Having taken into consideration all aspects of the matter, the Collegium is of the view that Shri Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, Additional Judge, is fit and suitable for being appointed as a permanent Judge.” In another resolution, Additional Judge Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen has been recommended for appointment as a permanent judge of the Kerala HC. While recommending her name, Collegium considered a report from the Judgment Evaluation Committee that rated the quality of her judgments as ‘Very Good’.
The Collegium on January 18 issued two separate resolutions recommending the names of additional judges for permanent appointment as Judges. Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay, Justice Rai Chattopadhyay, Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul), Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, and Justice Lapita Banerji are the names listed by the Collegium for appointment as permanent judges. In addition to this, the Collegium stated that four of the recommended additional judges be made permanent judges in the Calcutta HC and recommended the transfer of additional judge Justice Banerji to the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
