Collegium accepts govt objection to judge's appointment

The Supreme Court Collegium has accepted the government's objection to the recommendation for appointment of Justice Aniruddha Bose, a Calcutta HC judge, as Delhi High Court chief justice.

The Collegium, comprising Justices CJI Dipak Misra, Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Madan B Lokur, recommended Justice Bose for appointment as chief justice of Jharkhand HC instead of Delhi HC. It recommended for transfer of Justice Rajendra Menon, chief justice of Patna High Court, to Delhi HC.

The Centre has returned the file on Justice Bose, saying the Delhi HC, being a premier HC, should be headed by a seasoned judge, who had an experience of being chief justice of a high court. Justice Bose, a senior puisne judge of Calcutta HC, was recommended as chief justice of Delhi HC by the Collegium on January 10.

In its meeting held on July 16, the Collegium reconsidered the government's objections and recommended Justice Bose as chief justice of Jharkhand HC.

Besides, the Collegium recommended Justice K S Jhaveri, originally from Gujarat HC and now working as a senior puisne judge in Rajasthan HC, for being appointed as chief justice of the Orissa High Court.

It also recommended for the appointment of Justice Gita Mittal, acting chief justice of Delhi HC, as chief justice of Jammu and Kashmir HC. The post was lying vacant since the retirement of Justice B D Ahmed on March 15.

Among other recommendations, the Collegium picked the name of Justice Hrishikesh Roy for appointment as chief justice of the Kerala High Court. He was the acting CJ over there. It also found Mrs Justice V K Tahilramani suitable in all respects for being appointed as chief justice of the Madras High Court and Justice M R Shah as chief justice of the Patna High Court.

In another resolution, out of six additional judges of Patna HC, the Collegium recommended the name of Justice Arun Kumar for appointment as a permanent judge over there.