Justice Patel transferred to K'taka HC

In the first appointments to higher judiciary in the last 10 months, Justice Ramayyagari Subhash Reddy was on Wednesday elevated as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court while 12 additional judges of the Allahabad High Court were made as permanent judges.

Justice Reddy, a judge of the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana High Court, has been elevated as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office, a Law Ministry statement said here.

In related development Justice Jayant Maganlal Patel, a judge of the Gujarat High Court, has been transferred to the Karnataka High Court and directed to assume charge on or before February 13.

Notably, Justice Reddy has become the first judge to be elevated as Chief Justice of a high court since April 13 last when the government had brought into force the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act which had overturned the collegium system of appointing judges.

“Collegium recommendations for Chief Justices of Rajasthan, Patna, Gauhati, Meghalaya and Karnataka High Courts are under process. The notification is likely soon,” said a senior government functionary.