On Thursday(29th August),The Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, recommended Tejas Dhirenbhai Karia for appointment as a judge in the Delhi High Court, emphasizing his expertise in arbitration law. This move highlights the judiciary’s need for specialists in this critical legal area.
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NEW DELHI: On Thursday(29th August), the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, recommended the appointment of advocate Tejas Dhirenbhai Karia as a judge in the Delhi High Court. This decision underscores the importance of specialized expertise in the judiciary, particularly in the domain of arbitration law, which is increasingly becoming a critical area of legal practice.
The recommendation was made by the Collegium, which also includes Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai. The Collegium highlighted Karia’s specialization in arbitration law, a field that has seen a substantial increase in the volume of cases, necessitating the need for experts in this domain to handle these matters efficiently.
The Collegium’s resolution emphasized-
“Karia is an expert in the field of arbitration law.”
The necessity for specialized judges in the Delhi High Court was a key consideration in the Collegium’s recommendation. Arbitration cases have been on the rise, and their complex nature requires judges who not only understand the intricacies of arbitration law but can also navigate the nuances of both domestic and international arbitration proceedings.
The process leading to Karia’s recommendation began on October 25, 2023, when the then Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues, proposed Karia’s name for the position of High Court judge. This recommendation was based on a thorough evaluation of Karia’s legal career and expertise.
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The Supreme Court Collegium, in its resolution, noted the input from a consultee-judge who observed that while Karia’s appearances in the High Court may not be as frequent as others, his specialization in arbitration and his significant contributions before arbitration tribunals more than compensated for this.
“Our sole consultee-judge believes that the candidate is a specialist in arbitration law, with a primary focus on this field. Although his appearances in the high court may not be as frequent as expected, his significant presence before arbitration tribunals compensates for this.”
-the Collegium stated.
Further, the Collegium addressed concerns raised by the Department of Justice regarding Karia’s age. The resolution clarified that Karia meets the necessary age requirement for the appointment, stating-
“The inputs from the Department of Justice in the file indicate no concerns regarding the candidate’s integrity. Regarding the Department’s observation about the candidate’s age, we believe the candidate meets the minimum age requirement of 45 years as of the date of the high court collegium’s recommendation.”
Karia’s extensive experience, especially in arbitration law, is expected to be a significant asset to the Delhi High Court. The resolution elaborated on his credentials, noting that Karia has not only appeared in arbitration cases before both the High Courts and the Supreme Court but also has substantial experience in conducting arbitrations across various jurisdictions, both domestically and internationally.
The resolution concluded with a strong endorsement of Karia’s suitability for the role, stating-
“D Tejas Dhirenbhai Karia will be a valuable addition to the Delhi High Court bench. In addition to representing arbitration cases before the High Courts and the Supreme Court, Karia has extensive experience in conducting both domestic and international arbitrations.”
In light of these considerations, the Collegium resolved to recommend Karia’s appointment, underscoring that he is “eminently fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Delhi.”
The Collegium firmly supported his candidacy, asserting-
“Therefore, Tejas Dhirenbhai Karia is highly qualified and suitable for appointment as a judge of the Delhi High Court. The Collegium has decided to recommend Karia’s candidature for this position based on the above considerations.”
