SC Collegium reiterates Justices Bose, Bopanna's names

Collegium makes two fresh recommendations

The Supreme Court Collegium has reiterated its recommendation for the elevation of Justices Aniruddha Bose, and A S Bopanna, as judges of the top court.

The Collegium headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi rejected the Union government's plea for reconsideration on both the names.

The Collegium also made fresh recommendations for the elevation of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Judge, Bombay High Court, and Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court for elevation as top court judges.

With regard to the request made by Department of Justice for reconsideration on the names of Justices Bose and Bopanna, the Collegium said, the law laid down by the Supreme Court in its Opinion 'in Re: Special Reference No.1 of 1998' though inter-se seniority amongst judges in their High Courts and their combined seniority on all-India basis should be given due weightage, merit should be the predominant consideration.

"The Collegium accordingly kept in mind these parameters while recommending the two names," the resolution signed by the CJI, Justices S A Bobde, N V Ramana, Arun Mishra and R F Nariman stated.

It reiterated the recommendation made on April 12, 2019. The Centre returned the files on the two names possibly due to disregard to the principles of regional representation and seniority.

Justice Bose, chief justice of Jharkhand HC, stood at serial number 12 and Justice Bopanna, chief justice of Gauhati HC, at 36 in the combined seniority of High Court judges on an all-India basis.

Justice Bose originally hailed from Calcutta High Court while Justice Bopanna from Karnataka High Court.

In another resolution, the Collegium recommended for the elevation of Justice Gavai and Justice Surya Kant to the top court.

Justice Gavai was appointed as a Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and has been functioning there since then. He stands at serial number 8 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on an all-India basis.

Justice Surya Kant was appointed as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, and was elevated as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5,

2018. Justice Surya Kant stands at serial number 11 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on an all-India basis.

If all four recommendations get cleared, the number of judges in SC would rise from current 27 to 31, the sanctioned strength of judges.