The appointment of the chief justices of the high courts of Calcutta, Gujarat, Allahabad, Chhattisgarh, and Manipur was recommended on Thursday by the Supreme Court Collegium, which is led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. The appointment of Justice TS Sivagnanam as the chief justice of the Calcutta High Court has been proposed by the three-member collegium, which also includes Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph.
Allahabad High Court
According to the Collegium’s statement, Justice Rajesh Bindal’s appointment to the Supreme Court of India would result in the vacancy of the position of Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature in Allahabad. Consequently, a scheduled visit to that office is necessary. At the High Court of Judicature in Allahabad, where he has been serving on transfer since October 3, 2018, Justice Pritinker Diwaker is the seniormost puisne judge. The High Court of Chhattisgarh’s highest senior puisne judge is Mr. Justice Pritinker Diwaker. Mr. Justice Pritinker Diwaker, according to the Collegium, “is fit and qualified in all aspects for someone being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, having reference to all relevant criteria.”
Calcutta High Court
It stated that the Collegium has chosen to nominate Justice Sivagnanam, the senior-most judge on the Calcutta High Court, for appointment as chief of that high court in anticipation of Justice Shrivastava’s retirement. On March 31, 2009, Justice Sivagnanam was appointed to the bench. His retirement date is September 15, 2025. In addition, the resolution stated that Justice Sivagnanam’s time as a judge on the Calcutta High Court would have given him valuable expertise as the high court’s chief justice.
“The collegium is of the considered opinion that Judge T. S. Sivagnanam is fit and suitable in every respect to be appointed as the chief justice of the Calcutta High Court after taking into account all pertinent criteria.” “In light of this, the collegium decides to recommend Justice T. S. Sivagnanam for the position of Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court upon Justice Prakash Shrivastava’s retirement,” it added.
Gujrat High Court
The choice of Ms. Justice Gokani as Chief Justice will foster a sense of inclusiveness and make it easier for judges to be represented in the position, according to the Collegium’s proposal for Justice Gokani, the senior-most judge of the Gujarat High Court.
The Collegium noted that Justice Gokani has “excellent credentials” and is “fit and suitable in all respects for being selected as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Gujarat” and recommended that her recommendation be processed “on priority” due to her impending retirement. The Gujarat High Court’s 28th Chief Justice will be Justice Gokani. Justice Gokani, who was born in Jamnagar, began his career as an attorney before joining the judiciary in 1995 as a judge of the city civil and sessions court in Ahmedabad, where he presided over both civil and criminal cases.
She presided over the Sabarmati train burning case at Godhra, which occurred in 2002 and sparked riots throughout the state until the SC postponed the trial, while also serving as the special judge of the TADA court. In 2003, she was also the first person in Gujarat to be appointed as a POTA court judge.
Chhattisgarh High Court
Due to Justice Arup Kumar Goswami’s retirement, the position of Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh will become vacant on March 10, 2023. As a result, the Collegium has ordered that Justice Ramesh Sinha, the seniormost puisne judge from the High Court of Judicature in Allahabad, be named the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh HC. The High Court of Judicature in Allahabad is the biggest High Court in the nation, but the Collegium, which recommended his selection, observed in its statement that it lacks representation among the Chief Justices of the High Courts now that Justice Pankaj Mithal has been elevated to the Supreme Court.
Manipur High Court
Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur was suggested by the Collegium for the position of Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. He is the brother of TS Thakur, a former chief justice of India. Justice Thakur has served as a judge of the Bombay High Court since June 10, 2022. His parent high court is the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh high court. According to the Collegium’s resolution, since Justice AM Margret’s retirement, the Chief Justices of the High Courts do not represent the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Courts.
It was highlighted that no judge from Jammu and Kashmir had ever before been elevated to the position of Chief Justice of a High Court or judge of the Supreme Court. The Collegium stated that it was “of the considered opinion that Mr. Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur is suitable and qualified in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur” after taking into account all pertinent circumstances.
