SC Collegium recommends three lawyers, reiterates judicial officer for elevation to Gujarat High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended three lawyers – including two women – for elevation as judges of the Gujarat High Court.

Bhargav Dhirenbhai Karia, Megha Bhupendra Jani, and Sangeeta Kamalsingh Vishen have been recommended by the three seniormost judges of the Supreme Court for elevation.

After the Gujarat High Court Collegium had recommended these names back in December 2016, the Supreme Court Collegium, vide a resolution passed in April this year, decided to defer the recommendation.

After carefully scrutinizing the material on record and considering the observations made by the Department of Justice, the Collegium was of the view that Karia, Jani and Vishen ought to be elevated as High Court judges.

The Collegium has also reiterated its earlier decision to recommend judicial officer Vishnukumar Prabhudas Patel for elevation as a judge of the High Court. The resolution states,

“The proposal in respect of one Advocate and four Judicial Officers was approved by the Supreme Court Collegium on 19th April, 2018. While other recommendees stand appointed by the Government as Judges of the High Court, the proposal in respect of Shri Patel having been withheld, has been referred back to the Chief Justice of India for reconsideration in light of the observations made in the file.”

Since the Collegium did not find any fresh material in the file seeking reconsideration of its initial move to appoint Patel, it has reiterated the same, with the recommendation that it be processed expeditiously.

Should the Centre approve the recommendation, the strength of the Gujarat High Court will increase to 33 judges, as against a sanctioned strength of 52. Two judges – Justices Mohinder Pal and RH Shukla – are due to retire later this month.

Read the resolutions: