Supreme Court Collegium Actions in May 2024
In a significant move on May 17, 2024, the Supreme Court Collegium, comprising Chief Justice Dr. DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice BR Gavai, recommended the promotion of two Additional Judges from the Gauhati High Court to Permanent Judges and extended the term of an Additional Judge in the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
Supreme Court Dynamics
Starting May, the Supreme Court faced a reduction in its bench strength, initially at 33 judges following Justice Aniruddha Bose’s retirement in April. This number further decreased to 32 with Justice A.S. Bopanna’s retirement on May 18, just before the summer recess. Renowned for his transparency and dedication, Justice Bopanna’s career spanned from 1984, culminating in a notable five-year tenure at the Supreme Court. His contributions include landmark rulings on parliamentary immunity, freedom of speech for politicians, the demonetization policy, and the right to safe abortion.
High Court Appointments
- Madhya Pradesh High Court: Justice Sheel Nagu was appointed Acting Chief Justice effective May 25, succeeding Justice Ravi Vijaykumar Malimath upon his retirement.
- Madras High Court: Justice R. Mahadevan took over as Acting Chief Justice from May 24, following Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala’s retirement.
New Judges
- Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court: Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal was appointed as a Judge for a year starting June 3, 2024.
- Chhattisgarh High Court: Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey was made a Permanent Judge, and Justices Sachin Singh Rajput and Radhakishan Agrawal were appointed Additional Judges for one-year terms starting May 16 and August 2, respectively.
Judge Transfers
- Justice Arvind Singh Chandel moved from Chhattisgarh High Court to Patna High Court.
- Justice Valluri Kameswar Rao transferred from Delhi High Court to Karnataka High Court.
- Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva transitioned from Delhi High Court to Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Retirements of High Court Chief Justices
- Madras High Court: Justice S.V. Gangapurwala, celebrated for his versatility in law, sports, and education, retired on May 23 after serving as the 52nd Chief Justice for a year.
- Madhya Pradesh High Court: Justice Ravi Vijaykumar Malimath, known for his distinguished legal lineage and exemplary case management, retired on May 24.
Additional Noteworthy Appointments
- The Supreme Court reconstituted its Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee, appointing Justice Hima Kohli as Chairperson.
- Justice (Retd.) Sanjaya Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the first President of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) in New Delhi.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor and report on the pivotal judicial appointments and retirements shaping the Indian legal landscape.
