Collegium recommends Justice Joseph, two more judges for SC, 5 HC Chief Justices
New Delhi, July 20 : The Supreme Court collegium on Friday reiterated its recommendation to elevate Justice K.M.Joseph - the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court - to the Supreme Court.
Besides separately reiterating the recommendation of Justice Joseph, it also recommended the elevation of Madras High Court Chief Justice, Justice Indira Banarjee and Justice Vineet Saran - the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court to the Supreme Court.
The top court has sanctioned strength of 31 Judges, but is presently functioning with 22 judges.
While recommending the name of Justice Banerjee and Justice Saran, the Collegium said that it has taken into "consideration combined seniority on all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of High Courts, apart from their merit and integrity".
Reiterating its recommendation on Justice Joseph, the collegium noted that there was nothing adverse regarding his suitability in the two communications sent by the Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while returning the recommendation for reconsideration.
The collegium also recommended the shifting of Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice Rajendra Menon as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.
The recommendation of Justice Menon came as the collegium. on reconsideration, superseded its January 10 recommendation to appoint Justice Aniruddha Bose - senior puisne Judge of Calcutta High Court as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court - a recommendation returned by the Centre for reconsideration by the collegium.
Justice Bose has now been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
The acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Justice Gita Mittal - since April 2017 - has been recommended to be the Chief Justice of J&K High Court.
While recommending her appointment, the collegium noted that at "present there is only one Chief Justice from Delhi High Court which has the special status of being the High Court for the national capital".
The collegium has also recommended the appointment of Justice M.R. Shah - the senior-most Judge of Gujarat High Court as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
Justice V.K. Tahilramani - the senior most Judge from Bombay High Court has been recommended to be the Chief Justice of Madras High Court after it falls vacant on the elevation of Justice Banarjee to the Supreme Court.
While recommending Justice Tahilramani to be the Chief Justice of Madras High Court, the collegiums noted that at present "there is only one Chief Justice from Bombay High Court, which is one of the biggest High Courts with sanctioned Judge-strength of 94 Judges".
The collegium also recommended the confirmation of Justice Hrishikesh Roy, the Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court as its permanent Chief Justice.
Justice Roy was the senior-most Judge of Gauhati High Court before he was transferred to become acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court.
The collegium noted that at "present there is no Chief Justice from Gauhati High Court".
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
