The Central government on Sunday (12.02.2023) notified the appointment of Chief Justices to four high courts.
Justice Sonia G Gokani, Senior Most Judge of the Gujarat High Court, has been appointed as its Chief Justice. She will serve as Chief Justice only for a fortnight, as she retires on February 25. Her appointment as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on February 8.
A notification was issued on February 10 appointing Justice Gokani as acting Chief Justice after Chief Justice Aravind Kumar was elevated as a Supreme Court judge. Justice Gokani will become the first woman Chief Justice in the 63-year history of the Gujarat High Court.
Justice Sandeep Mehta, Judge of the Rajasthan High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court. On February 8, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Mehta for appointment as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
Justice Mehta was appointed as a judge in Rajasthan High Court on May 30, 2011 and is due to retire on January 10, 2025.
The Collegium had previously resolved to appoint Justice K Vinod Chandran to the Gauhati High Court as Chief Justice. However, the decision was recalled by a separate resolution, and Justice Chandran was instead recommended for appointment as Patna High Court’s Chief Justice. Therefore, the Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Mehta, finding him suitable and fit for the same.
Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge, Orissa High Court has been elevated as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Singh’s appointment as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on January 25. The Collegium had earlier recommended the appointment of Justice Singh as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
The same decision was recalled by the collegium in its statement on January 25, and he was subsequently recommended for elevation as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court.
Justice N Kotiswar Singh, Judge, Gauhati High Court has been made Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Justice Singh’s appointment as Chief Justice was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on December 13, 2022. Justice Singh has served thrice as acting Chief Justice of the Gauhati and Manipur High Courts.
