Owing to the latest vacancies arising in the office of the Chief Justice for the High Courts of Meghalaya, Orissa and Uttaranchal, the Supreme Court Collegium comprising of Dr Justice DY Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, in a Resolution passed on 02-11-2023, recommended the names of 3 Judges whom the Collegium considered to be eligible to take over as new Chief Justices for the afore-stated High Courts. The recommended names are as follows-
Justice S Vaidyanathan, as the Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya
Currently a Judge in the Madras High Court, Justice S. Vaidyanathan got enrolled at the Bar in 1986 and practised at the Madras High Court and various Tribunals. His area of practice was labour, service, criminal and company matters. He was appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court on 25-10-2013 and during his tenure of 10 years as a Judge, he authored 1219 reported judgments.
The Collegium took into consideration the afore-stated details along with the fact that Justice S. Vaidyanathan has acquired considerable experience in dispensing justice in one of the largest High Courts in the country and is the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court. The Collegium also noted that Justice Vaidyanathan is a competent Judge with humility, judicial temperament, and unimpeachable integrity.
Former Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, Justice Sanjib Banerjee retired on 01-11-2023 and currently Justice Hamarsan Singh Thanglchiew is functioning as the Acting Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.
While recommending his name, the Collegium also considered the fact that the Madras High Court, is presently represented by only one Chief Justice among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa
Currently a Judge in the Patna High Court, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh’s name has been recommended as the new Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. Former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, Justice Subhasis Talapatra retired on 03-10-2023.
Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh was enrolled at the Bar in 1990 and practised at the High Court of Judicature at Patna. He practised mainly in constitutional, service, criminal and arbitration matters. During his practice of 22 years Justice Chakradhari also served as Additional Advocate General for the State of Bihar since December 2010 till his elevation as a Judge of Patna High Court on 05-04-2012.
The Collegium took into consideration that during his tenure of more than 11 years as a Judge of High Court, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh has authored 1246 reported judgments. The Collegium also took note that Justice Chakradhari has maintained high standard of professional ethics at the Bar and Bench and enjoys good reputation for conduct and integrity.
While recommending the name of Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, the Collegium took note of the fact that at present the High Court of Judicature at Patna has no representation among the Chief Justices of High Courts.
Justice Ritu Bahri, Judge, as the Chief Justice of High Court of Uttaranchal
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the name of Justice Ritu Bahri, who is currently serving as a Judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as the next Chief Justice of Uttaranchal High Court, thereby succeeding Justice Vipin Sanghi, who retired from the post of Chief Justice of the High Court on 26-10-2023.
Justice Ritu Bahri enrolled at the Bar in 1986 she practised at the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Her area of practice was civil, constitutional, taxation, labour and service matters with specialisation in service and tax matters. During her practice of 24 years, Justice Bahri also served as Assistant Advocate General, Deputy Advocate General and as Senior Deputy Advocate General for the State of Haryana.
Justice Bahri was appointed as a Judge of High Court of Punjab and Haryana on 16-08-2010 and during her tenure of 13 years as a Judge of High Court, she authored 843 reported judgments. The Collegium took note of the fact that Justice Ritu Bahri has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice in one of the largest High Courts in the country and is a competent judge endowed with high level of integrity, conduct and character.
The Collegium also noted that that the High Court of Punjab and Haryana has jurisdiction over two large States and at present there is only one Chief Justice to represent the High Court of Punjab and Haryana from among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
Furthermore, the Collegium noted that at present there is only one woman Chief Justice and her elevation would enhance representation of women among the Chief Justices of the High Courts i.e. Justice Sunita Agarwal, Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court.
