The Supreme Court Collegium has decided to remit the proposal for the appointment of Advocate Tejal Vashi as a Judge of the Gujarat High Court, recommending that the Chief Justice of the High Court reconsider her name alongside other eligible candidates in the future.
The proposal for Ms. Vashi’s elevation was initially made by the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court on December 22, 2023, after consultation with the two senior-most colleagues of the High Court. Despite the recommendation, the views of the Chief Minister and the Governor of Gujarat were not conveyed within the prescribed timeframe. As per the established procedure, the Department of Justice moved forward, assuming no objections from the state constitutional authorities.
In its deliberation, the Supreme Court Collegium consulted judges familiar with the workings of the Gujarat High Court and reviewed the material on record. The Department of Justice’s observations highlighted that Ms. Vashi enjoys a good personal and professional reputation, with no concerns about her integrity.
However, after careful evaluation, the Collegium concluded that the proposal for Ms. Vashi’s elevation should be reconsidered alongside other candidates. The decision was made by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai.
