The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the repatriation of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh from the Delhi High Court back to the Allahabad High Court after reviewing his professional background. This decision, made on November 28-29, 2024, reflects the policy of maintaining balance in judicial appointments among various High Courts in India.
Justice S. Ravindra Bhat’s retirement on October 20 allowed Justice A.S. Oka to join the Supreme Court Collegium, now led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. This reorganization follows the former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s retirement. The collegium plays a vital role in judicial appointments, impacting transparency and autonomy in the Indian judiciary.
The Supreme Court Collegium, under Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, faced obstacles in judicial appointments, with key recommendations for Saurabh Kirpal and R. John Sathyan stalled by the government. Notably, no women were recommended for the Supreme Court. Delays and concerns over government interference have prompted judicial discourse on these appointments.
Today, On 30th October, five new judges were sworn in at the Kerala High Court, reducing judicial vacancies to two. The court now has 45 judges out of 47 allotted. Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar administered the oath, and officials welcomed the appointees, emphasizing their contributions amidst criticisms of the Central government’s delays in approvals.
Kerala AG Gopalakrishna Kurup criticized the Central government for its persistent interference with the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations for judicial appointments, causing significant delays. He highlighted the specific case of Justice PP Krishna Kumar, whose elevation was stalled for nearly a year despite no objections to his integrity.
Today, On 24th October, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced Justice Siddaiah Rachaiah’s appointment as a permanent judge of the Karnataka High Court. Additionally, three lawyers, Maheswara Rao Kuncheam, Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekar, and Challa Gunaranjan, were appointed as judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, approved by the central government.
Today, On 23rd October, the Centre appointed five advocates as additional judges of the Bombay High Court for two years, amid a judge shortage (64 out of 94). This decision aims to alleviate the backlog of cases. The judges, recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, bring significant legal expertise to enhance judicial efficiency.
Today, On 27th September, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud announced that new appointments to the Bombay High Court are imminent to address its heavy workload, with the Supreme Court collegium recommending nine advocates awaiting government approval. The high court currently has 28 vacancies out of 94 sanctioned judges, with a call for prompt appointments to alleviate delays in hearings.
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of two judicial officers, Shashi Bhushan Prasad Singh and Ashok Kumar Pandey, as judges of the Patna High Court. This decision follows consultations with eminent Supreme Court judges and input from the Union Department of Justice, confirming the candidates’ integrity and professional reputations.
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended appointing nine advocates as judges of the Bombay High Court and Justice Narendar G as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. The recommendations followed evaluations of candidates’ merits, addressing current judicial vacancies, and ensuring representation from the Karnataka High Court among Chief Justices.