The Supreme Court Collegium led by Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud has published its recommendation for Appointment of Chief Justices in Five High Courts.
The Collegium’s Decision was taken in its meeting held on 27 December 2023 with other 2 members as Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice BR Gavai.
For Allahabad High Court the Collegium has recommended the name Justice Arun Bhansali, Judge, Rajasthan High Court, as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad.
The recommendation reads as under:
A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad has arisen consequent upon the retirement of Mr Justice Pritinker Diwaker. Therefore, appointment to that office is required to be made.
Para 3 of the Memorandum of Procedure relating to appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court provides as under:
“A fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity.”
The Collegium recommends the appointment of Mr Justice Arun Bhansali as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. Mr Justice Arun Bhansali was appointed as a Judge of the Rajasthan High Court on 8 January 2013 and has been functioning there as a senior puisne Judge. Before his elevation as a Judge of the High Court, he practised at the Jodhpur Bench in civil, company, Constitutional and taxation cases.
As regards his contribution to the judiciary by way of disposal of cases, during his tenure of nearly eleven years as a Judge of the High Court, he has authored more than 1230 reported judgments. He has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice in the Rajasthan High Court. He is considered to be a competent judge with sound legal acumen and, would therefore be an eminently suitable choice to be elevated as Chief Justice of the largest High Court in the country.
Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Arun Bhansali is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. While recommending his name, the Collegium is conscious of the fact that the Rajasthan High Court will be represented by two Chief Justices among the Chief Justices of the High Courts, as the Collegium has vide a separate resolution also recommended the appointment of Mr Justice Vijay Bishnoi, who is senior to Mr Justice Arun Bhansali, as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend the appointment of Mr Justice Arun Bhansali as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad.
