The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Ramesh Sinha of Allahabad High Court (Senior Judge of Lucknow Bench) as Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court.
The Collegium, has, resolved to recommend that Mr Justice Ramesh Sinha be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, after the retirement of Mr Justice Arup Kumar Goswami on 10 March 2023.
The Collegium statement reads as under:
The office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh would be falling vacant on 10 March 2023, consequent upon retirement of Mr Justice Arup Kumar Goswami. Therefore, appointment to that office is required to be made.
The Collegium resolves to make its recommendation in anticipation of the vacancy which will occur in a month. Mr Justice Ramesh Sinha is the seniormost puisne Judge from the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and is functioning there since his elevation on 21 November 2011.
The High Court of Judicature at Allahabad is the largest High Court in the country and, after the elevation of Mr Justice Pankaj Mithal to the Supreme Court, it does not have any representation among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, consultation was held with the consultee-Judge/s whose parent High Court is the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, with a view to ascertain the suitability of Mr Justice Ramesh Sinha for appointment as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
The consultee-Judge/s have concurred with the proposal for the appointment of Mr Justice Ramesh Sinha as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh. Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Ramesh Sinha is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of High Court of Chhattisgarh.
The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend that Mr Justice Ramesh Sinha be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, after the retirement of Mr Justice Arup Kumar Goswami on 10 March 2023.