Collegium recommends names for the appointment as Chief Justices at Bombay, Orissa, Gujarat, Telangana, and Manipur High Courts

The Supreme Court Collegium issued five different resolutions on July 5, 2023, recommending the names of different judges to be appointed as the Chief Justices of Bombay High Court, Orissa High Court, Gujarat High Court, Telangana High Court, and Manipur High Court. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice Surya Kant are the members of the Collegium who recommended the elevation of judges.

Justice Devendra Upadhyaya of the Allahabad High Court was recommended to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court by the Collegium. On May 30, 2023, the former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice RD Dhanuka retired and created a vacancy. The recommendation of Justice Upadhyaya was made to fulfill the vacancy of the Chief Justice of the Bombay HC. Currently, Justice Nitin Jamdar is serving as the acting Chief Justice of the Court. On November 21, 2011, Justice Upadhyaya was elevated as the Allahabad HC judge and now is the third senior-most judge in the Court. While recommending his name for the elevation as SC judge, Collegium observed, “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. On appointment of Mr. Justice Upadhyaya, the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad which is the largest High Court with a total judge strength of 160 would get adequate representation among the Chief Justices of High Courts…the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr. Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya is fit and suitable in all aspects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay.” 

Justice Subhasis Talapatra was recommended to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Orissa HC by the Collegium, the senior-most judge from the Tripura HC. On November 15, 2011, he was elevated as a judge of the Gauhati HC and further opted for Tripura HC in 2013. Considering his wide experience, the Collegium observed “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 since its inception in 2013, the HC of Tripura till date has not got representation among the Chief Justices of the HCs. Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr. Justice Subhasis Talapatra is fit and suitable in all aspects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the HC of Orissa.” In addition, Justice Sunita Agarwal was recommended by the Collegium to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat HC. He is the senior-most puisne Judge in the HC of Allahabad. The resolution passed by the Collegium reads, “The HC of Judicature at Allahabad is the largest HC in the country. On the appointment of Ms. Justice Sunita Agarwal, the Allahabad HC would have a second Chief Justice among the Chief Justices of the HCs…Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Ms. Justice Sunita Agarwal is fit and suitable in all aspects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the HC of Gujarat.”

Justice Alok Aradhe was recommended to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court by the Collegium. He is currently serving as a judge of the Karnataka HC and has an experience of more than 13 years in dispensing justice in two large High Courts. Another resolution was issued by the Collegium, recommending Justice Siddharth Mridul to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Manipur HC. On 9 February 2023, the Collegium recommended for the elevation of Mr. Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as Chief Justice of Manipur HC. As this recommendation was pending before the government, the Collegium in another resolution recommended his elevation as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh HC.  All the appointments are according to para 3 of the Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of Chief Justices of High Courts. It illustrates that “appointment should be done on the basis of seniority subject to merit and integrity with the fair representation given to various High Courts”.