Collegium Makes Additional Proposal For Tripura HC CJ, As Judge Recommended Earlier Will Retire In 2 Weeks
The Supreme Court collegium has made an additional recommendation for the appointment as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, in view of the impending retirement of the judge earlier recommended for the post, whose file is pending with the Central Government.On January 25, the collegium had proposed the appointment of Justice Jaswant Singh, who is at present a judge of the Orissa...
The Supreme Court collegium has made an additional recommendation for the appointment as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, in view of the impending retirement of the judge earlier recommended for the post, whose file is pending with the Central Government.
On January 25, the collegium had proposed the appointment of Justice Jaswant Singh, who is at present a judge of the Orissa High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. The Central Government is yet to act upon this proposal. Since Justice Singh is due to retire on February 22, the collegium has now proposed the appointment of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, judge of the Jharkhand High Court, as Tripura HC CJ after Justice Singh's retirement.
While proposing Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh's name, the collegium noted that Jharkhand High Court is unrepresented among the Chief Justices of the High Courts,
"The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend that upon the retirement of Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Mr. Justice Apresh Kumar Singh be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura", stated the resolution of the collegium comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice SK Kaul and Justice KM Joseph.
Supreme Court had highlighted the impending retirement of Justice Jaswant Singh in last week's hearing
The bench led by Justice SK Kaul, while hearing a contempt petition filed over Centre's delay in notifying judges' appointments, had impressed upon the Attorney General for India that one of the pending recommendations include the name of a judge who is about to retire in 19 days.
AG Venkataramani said that he is aware of it and assured that necessary action is being taken. This was recorded in the order. As the Centre's notification is awaited, the collegium has now made the additional proposal. The post of Chief Justice at the Tripura High Court has been lying vacant since the retirement of Justice Indrajit Mahanty on November 10, 2022. Tripura High Court at present has only judge.
It is worthwhile to note that Justice Jaswant Singh's name was earlier proposed as the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court in September 2022. This was meant as a replacement of Justice Muralidhar, whose transfer as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court was recommended by the collegium in September 2022. The Centre has withheld approval for the proposal regarding transfer of Justice Muralidhar, while approving the transfer of Justice Pankaj Mithal (now SC judge) which was proposed in the same resolution.
In view of the transfer of Justice Muralidhar remaining pending, the collegium later recalled the proposal to elevate Justice Jaswant Singh as Orissa HC CJ and proposed him instead as Tripura HC CJ. Justice Singh originally belongs to Punjab and Haryana High Court and is at present the second senior judge in the Orissa High Court.