The Supreme Court Collegium comprising of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sanjiv Khanna has recommended to the Centre the names of three Judges for appointment as Chief Justice of Uttarkhand, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts.

The Collegium has recommended the names of Justice Ritu Bahri, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice S Vaidyanathan for appointment as chief justice of the high courts of Uttarakhand, Orissa and Meghalaya respectively.

While Justice Ritu Bahri is the Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the notification dated November 02, 2023 read, “It is proposed to appoint Ms Justice Ritu Bahri as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand. She was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana on 16 August 2010 and is the senior-most puisne Judge in her parent High Court.”

The notification further read, “Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Ms Justice Ritu Bahri is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand. In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend that Ms Justice Ritu Bahri be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand.

While Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh is the Judge of Patna High Court, the notification dated November 02, 2023 read, “It is proposed to appoint Mr Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa. Mr Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Patna on 5 April 2012 and has been functioning there as the senior-most puisne Judge.

The notification further read, “Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa. The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend the appointment of Mr Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Orissa.

While Justice S Vaidyanathan is the Judge of Madras High Court, the notification dated November 02, 2023 read, “It is proposed to appoint Mr Justice S Vaidyanathan as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya. Mr Justice S Vaidyanathan was appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court on 25 October 2013.”

The notification further read, “He is the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court. He is a competent judge with humility, judicial temperament and unimpeachable integrity. While recommending his name, the Collegium has also taken into consideration the fact that the Madras High Court which is one of the largest High Courts in the country, is presently represented by only one Chief Justice among the Chief Justices of the High Courts. In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend that Mr Justice S Vaidyanathan be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya.”

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