The Supreme Court Collegium on Thursday recommended the appointment of Senior Advocate Kardak Ete as a judge of the Gauhati High Court.
In its resolution published on the apex court website, the Collegium said that the elevation of Ete, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe, will add to the diversity on the Gauhati High Court bench.
"The report of the Intelligence Bureau indicates that he enjoys a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to integrity. The candidate belongs to a Scheduled Tribe. Besides his own competence and standing at the Bar, the appointment of Shri Kardak Ete will bring greater diversity and inclusion to the High Court. The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend that Shri Kardak Ete, Advocate, be appointed as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court," the resolution said.
Like other Collegium resolutions of recent past, the process of recommending the name was stated in significant detail.
"The Collegium of the Gauhati High Court comprising of the then Chief Justice and two seniormost Judges unanimously made the recommendation on 01 December, 2022. The Chief Ministers and Governors of the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland have concurred with the recommendation. In order to ascertain the fitness and suitability of Shri Kardak Ete for elevation to the High Court, in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, the Judges of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the Gauhati High Court were consulted."
The Department of Justice's observations were also scrutinised, the Collegium added.
The Central government is yet to notify the appointment of judicial officer Mridul Kumar Kalita as a judge of the Gauhati High Court. Kalita was recommended for elevation in January this year.
[Read Resolution]