Supreme Court Collegium recommends appointment of judicial officer Vimal Kanaiyalal Vyas as Gujarat High Court judge

The Supreme Court collegium on Tuesday recommended the appointment of judicial officer Vimal Kanaiyalal Vyas as a judge of the Gujarat High Court. .The resolution passed in this regard by the collegium stated that the judicial officer was recommended for elevation in February this year by the Chief Justice and two senior-most judges of the Gujarat High Court.The Supreme Court collegium then consulted with fellow judges well versed in the affairs of the Gujarat High Court and scrutinised all the material placed on record, including the report of the Judgment Assessment Committee. It is also stated that the views of the Chief Minister and Governor of Gujarat have not been placed in the file within the stipulated time frame of six weeks from the date of receipt of the proposal from the Chief Justice of the High Court. Therefore, as per the memorandum of procedure, it should be presumed by the Minister of Law and Justice that the Governor and Chief Minister have nothing to add to the proposal and proceed accordingly, the resolution said.The collegium noted certain adverse remarks in the report of the Judgment Assessment Committee but taking everything into account, the collegium recommended their elevation."Bearing in mind the views of the consultee-judges on the suitability of the candidate, the report of the Judgment Assessment Committee and the assessment made by the Government of India in the file, the Collegium is of the considered view that the officer is suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Gujarat", the resolution dated October 10, 2023 stated.Interestingly, the resolution said that the views of the Chief Minister and Governor of Gujarat were not placed in the file within the stipulated time frame of six weeks from the date of receipt of the proposal from the Chief Justice of the High Court. Therefore, as per the memorandum of procedure, it should be presumed by the Minister of Law and Justice that the Governor and Chief Minister have nothing to add to the proposal, the resolution said..As on October 11, the Gujarat High Court is functioning with 29 judges as against its sanctioned strength of 52 judges..[Read Collegium Resolution]