GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Vijay Bishnoi as the new Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
This crucial position had been vacant since November when the former Chief Justice, Justice Sandeep Mehta, was elevated to the prestigious role of a judge in the apex court.
Justice Bishnoi, currently serving as a senior puisne judge in the Rajasthan High Court, had been appointed to the bench on January 3, 2013.
“His conduct and integrity are beyond reproach,” stated the collegium in its resolution.
The collegium highlighted Justice Bishnoi’s remarkable contribution to the judiciary by noting that he had authored a commendable 652 reported judgments during his almost 11-year tenure.
His wealth of experience in dispensing justice at the Rajasthan High Court was acknowledged, showcasing his commitment to upholding a high standard of professional ethics both at the Bar and the Bench, the collegium, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjeev Khanna and BR Gavai, said.
The recommendation also takes into account the fact that the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Bishnoi’s parent high court, is presently not represented among the Chief Justices of the various high courts.
Before donning the robe of a high court judge, Bishnoi had a distinguished career practicing law at the Rajasthan High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal in Jodhpur.
His areas of expertise encompassed civil, criminal, constitutional, service, and election cases.
In addition to the Gauhati High Court, the collegium has put forth recommendations for Chief Justices in several other High Courts, including Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, Jharkhand, and Allahabad.
Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, the most senior judge from the High Court of Chhattisgarh, has been nominated to assume the role of Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
Simultaneously, the collegium has recommended Justice Sheel Nagu, a current judge on the Madhya Pradesh High Court, to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while Justice Arun Bhansali of the Rajasthan High Court has been proposed as the recommended Chief Justice for the Allahabad High Court.
As the Chief Justice position at the Jharkhand High Court is anticipated to become vacant with the imminent retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, the Collegium has given its endorsement to Justice B R Sarangi, presently serving as a judge on the Orissa High Court, to assume this crucial responsibility.
