New Delhi: The Supreme Court collegium on Tuesday recommended the names of three advocates for appointment as Judges of the Gujarat High Court.
The Supreme Court collegium comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice BR Gavai recommended the names of Sanjeev Jayendra Thaker, Deeptendra Narayan Ray and Maulik Jitendra Shelat for appointment as judges of the Gujarat High Court.
What did the Supreme Court collegium say?
“The Collegium resolves to recommend that S/Shri (i) Sanjeev Jayendra Thaker, (ii) Deeptendra Narayan Ray @ D N Ray, and (iii) Maulik Jitendra Shelat, Advocates, be appointed as Judges of the High Court of Gujarat. Their inter se seniority be fixed as per the existing practice,” the Supreme Court collegium said.
Gujarat High Court Chief Justice recommended the names of three advocates in December last year
The Gujarat High Court Chief Justice in consultation with her two senior-most colleagues recommended the names of the three advocates for appointment as Judges of the Gujarat High Court on December 22, 2023.
Gujarat Chief Minister, Governor have not conveyed their views, Supreme Court collegium noted
The collegium took note that the Gujarat chief minister and governor have not conveyed their views on the above recommendation.
“The Department of Justice has forwarded the above recommendation by invoking para 14 of the Memorandum of Procedure which provides that if the comments of the State constitutional authorities are not received within the prescribed time-frame, it should be presumed by the Minister of Law and Justice that the Governor and the Chief Minister have nothing to add to the proposal and proceed accordingly,” collegium said.
The collegium, in order to ascertain the suitability of the three advocates for elevation to the high court, consulted colleagues conversant with the affairs of the Gujarat High Court.
Consultee judges have given positive opinion on suitability of candidates, Supreme Court collegium noted
The collegium noted that the consultee judges have given positive opinion on the suitability of the candidates for appointment as a Judge of the Gujarat High Court.
“For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the above candidates for elevation to the High Court, we have scrutinized and evaluated the material placed on record. We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file,” the collegium said while recommending the names of three advocates for appointment as the Gujarat High Court judges.
The Gujarat High Court has a sanctioned strength of 52 judges and is currently working with 29 judges.