The Central Government has notified the appointment of advocate Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, as an additional judge of the Madras High Court.

Ramamoorthy has been appointed as an additional judge of the High Court for a period of two years. A notification issued on Monday to this effect states,

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of Constitution of India, the President is please to appoint Shri Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, to be an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court, for a period of two years with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.”

The Supreme Court Collegium had reiterated its recommendation to appoint  Ramamoorthy, a partner at Dua Associates as a judge of the Madras High Court in mid 2018, along with the name of Additional Advocate General C Emilias.

Both names were recommended along with seven others back in December 2017. The Centre had sent back the names of Emalias and Ramamoorthy in June 2018, apparently on grounds that there had been complaints made against the two lawyers. However, in August 2018, the Supreme Court Collegium stood firm by its recommendation to elevate both Emilias and Ramamoorthy, stating,

“We have perused the observations recorded in the file for referring back the afore-mentioned filed for reconsideration of the above proposal in view of the complaints making allegations against these two recommendees. On careful examination of the allegations made in these complaints we do not find any prima facie substance and hence we are not persuaded to reconsider the matter. The complaints placed in the file being devoid of merit, deserve to be ignored.“ 

With the addition of Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy to the Bench, the Madras High Court will be at 80 per cent of its sanctioned strength, with 60 sitting judges as against a sanctioned strength of 75 judges.

The latest central government notification is, however, silent as regards the proposed elevation of C Emilias.

Read the notification: