Supreme Court collegium recommends Gujarat High Court judges as chief justices

The Supreme Court collegium has resolved to elevate two judges belonging to the Gujarat High Court—Justice DN Patel and Justice Akil Kureshi—as chief justices of Delhi and Madhya Pradesh High Court, respectively. Notably, Justice Patel, on transfer, is presently serving in the Jharkhand High Court, whereas Justice Kureshi is serving in the Bombay High Court.

The resolution passed by the collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi provides that the office of the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court will be vacant due to the imminent retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Rajendra Menon in June. The resolution reads: "Justice DN Patel is a senior puisne judge from Gujarat High Court and at present is functioning, on transfer, in Jharkhand High Court. Having regard to all relevant factors, the collegium is of the considered view that Justice Patel is suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. The collegium resolves to recommend accordingly."

Similarly, in case of Justice Kureshi, the collegium resolution provides that Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court SK Seth is going to retire on June 9 and therefore, an appointment to that office is required to be made. The resolution reads: "Justice Akil Kureshi is the senior-most Judge from Gujarat High Court and at present is functioning, on transfer, in Bombay High Court. Having regard to all relevant factors, the collegium is of the considered view that Justice Akil Kureshi is suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The collegium resolves to recommend accordingly."

Notably, Justice Kureshi's transfer to Bombay High Court had become a major controversy, with the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association launching an indefinite-strike demanding a recall of the transfer order. The association's president Yatin Oza had then said that Justice Kureshi, one of the finest judges of the Gujarat High Court, was transferred for his judgments on law points, many of which went against the state government and people in power.

VACANCY

• Justice DN Patel, on transfer, is presently serving in the Jharkhand High Court, whereas Justice Akil Kureshi is serving in the Bombay High Court 
   
• Chief Justice of Delhi High Court will be vacant due to the imminent retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Rajendra Menon in June. Similarly, Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court SK Seth is going to retire on June 9