The Supreme Court Collegium has officially recommended Justice Joymalya Bagchi of the Calcutta High Court for elevation to the Supreme Court, a decision that highlights a blend of seniority, merit, and regional representation.
Justice Bagchi, currently positioned at Sl. No. 11 in the all-India seniority list of High Court judges, follows ten other senior judges. The list includes eight sitting Chief Justices and two puisne judges, with notable representation from multiple high courts. Among these, four judges hail from the Calcutta High Court, indicating a strong legacy and influence from this jurisdiction in the Indian judiciary.
Justice Biswanath Somadder leads the seniority list and serves as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. He, along with Justices Indra Prasanna Mukerji, Harish Tandon, and Soumen Sen, exemplify the Calcutta High Court’s substantial contribution to the judiciary at various levels, including the Meghalaya High Court where Justice Mukerji presides.
This nomination also addresses the underrepresentation of the Calcutta High Court in the Supreme Court. Currently, Justice Dipankar Datta is the sole representative from Calcutta at the apex court. The Collegium’s resolution underscores the balance needed between seniority and the necessity for a diverse judicial representation that mirrors the pluralistic nature of India.
Moreover, the state-wise distribution of Supreme Court judges shows a broad geographical spread, from the high courts of Delhi, Bombay, and Madhya Pradesh to lesser-represented regions like Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, ensuring a pan-Indian judicial perspective.
