On Wednesday, the Supreme Court Collegium led by CJI DY Chandrachud recommended the name of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur of Bombay High Court, [PHC: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh], as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
The resolution states as under:
The office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh fell vacant on 19 May 2023 consequent upon the elevation of Mr Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra to the Supreme Court. 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.”
It is proposed to appoint Mr Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir on 08 March 2013 and is now the senior-most Judge in his parent High Court. He was transferred, in the interest of better administration of justice, to the High Court of Bombay in June 2022 and has been functioning there since then. The recommendation made by the Collegium on 09 February 2023 for his elevation as Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur has been pending with the Government.
On appointment of Mr Justice Thakur, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would get representation amongst the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
In view of the above, the Collegium, in supersession of its recommendation dated 09 February 2023, resolves to recommend that Mr Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur be appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.
