SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Re: Filling up vacancies of Judges in the Supreme Court.
Against the sanctioned Judge-strength of thirty-four, the Supreme Court of India is presently functioning with thirty Judges, leaving four clear vacancies.
The Collegium has extensively deliberated and discussed names of Chief Justices and senior puisne High Court Judges eligible for appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court and has resolved to fill up all the four existing vacancies.
The Collegium considers that the following four persons are more deserving and suitable in all respects than other Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts, for being appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India:
Mr. Justice Krishna Murari, Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court,
(PHC: Allahabad)
Mr. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court,
(PHC: Delhi)
Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court,
(PHC: Madras) and
Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Chief Justice, Kerala High Court, (PHC: Gauhati).
The Collegium, therefore, unanimously resolves to recommend that Mr. Justice Krishna Murari, Mr. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, and Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy, be appointed as Judges in the Supreme Court of India.
While recommending the names of Mr. Justice Krishna Murari, Mr. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, and Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy, the Collegium has taken into consideration combined seniority on all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts, apart from their competence, conduct and integrity.
The Collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the High Courts. The Collegium is also conscious of the fact that some High Courts are going to be unrepresented in the Supreme Court.
Mr. Justice Krishna Murari was appointed as Judge of the Allahabad High Court on 7 th January, 2004 and was elevated as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court on nd June, 2018. He stands at Sl. No.5 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis. In the seniority of Judges hailing from Allahabad High Court, Mr. Justice Krishna Murari stands at Sl. No.1. While recommending his name, the Collegium is conscious of the fact that on appointment of Mr. Justice Krishna Murari, there will be three Judges on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the Allahabad High Court, which has the distinction of being the largest High Court in the country.
Mr. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat was appointed as Judge of the Delhi High Court on 16th July, 2004 and was elevated as Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court on 5 th May, 2019. He stands at Sl. No.12 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis. While recommending the name of Mr. Justice Bhat, the Collegium is conscious of the fact that in the seniority of Judges hailing from Delhi High Court, he stands at Sl. No.3 and that on his appointment, there will be three Judges on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the Delhi High Court, which has the special status of being the High Court of the national capital.
Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian was appointed as Judge of the Madras High Court on 31st July, 2006 and after serving as Judge, on transfer, in the common High Court for the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and thereafter in the Telangana High Court, was elevated as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court on 22nd June, 2019. He stands at Sl. No.42 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis. While recommending the name of Mr. Justice Ramasubramanian, the Collegium is conscious of the fact that in the seniority of Judges hailing from Madras High Court, he stands at Sl. No.2 and that on his appointment, there will be two Judges on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the Madras High Court, which is the fourth largest High Court in the country.
Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy was appointed as Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 12 th October, 2006 and was elevated as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court on 8 th August, 2018. He stands at Sl. No.46 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis. In the seniority of Judges hailing from Gauhati High Court, Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy stands at Sl. No.1. While recommending his name, the Collegium is conscious of the fact that on appointment of Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy, there will be two Judges on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the Gauhati High Court but that will be for a very short duration as one of them (Chief Justice of India)
would be demitting office in November, 2019.
In view of the foregoing, the Collegium resolves to recommend that appointments be made in the following order:
- Mr. Justice Krishna Murari,
- Mr. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat,
- Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, and
- Mr. Justice Hrishikesh Roy.
( Ranjan Gogoi ), CJI.
( S.A. Bobde ), J.
( N.V. Ramana ), J.
( Arun Mishra ), J.
( R.F. Nariman ), J.
New Delhi,
August 28, 2019.