Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Appointment Of Justice Devendra Upadhyaya As Chief Justice Of Bombay High Court

Supreme Court Collegium comprising of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna has recommended the appointment of Justice Devendra Upadhyaya of the Allahabad High Court as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

The collegium noted that Justice Upadhyaya has acquired eleven years of experience in dispensing justice, and his appointment will provide representation of the Allahabad HC among the Chief Justices.

“He has been functioning there since his elevation and has acquired experience of more than 11 years in dispensing justice in the largest High Court in the country. On appointment of Mr Justice Upadhyaya, the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad which is the largest High Court with a total judge strength of 160 would get adequate representation among the Chief Justices of High Courts…the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay”.

The recommendation was made as the retirement of former Chief Justice of the Bombay HC Justice RD Dhanuka created a vacancy on May 30, 2023. Currently, Justice Nitin Jamdar is the Acting Chief Justice of the Court.

Justice Upadhyaya was elevated as a judge of the Allahabad HC on November 21, 2011, and is now the third senior most judge in the HC.

The appointment is as per para 3 of the Memorandum of Procedure for appointment of Chief Justice of a High Court, which provides that Chief Justices are appointed based on seniority subject to merit and integrity, with fair representation given to various High Courts.

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