The Supreme Court collegium has recently recommended the appointment of two advocates and five judicial officers to the Gujarat High Court.
The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud recommended the following names; Advocate Devan Mahendrabhai Desai and Advocate Moxa Kiran Thakker and judicial officers Susan Valentine Pinto, Hasmukhbhai Dalsukhjbhai Suthar, Jitendra Champaklal Doshi, Mangesh Rameshchandra Mengdey and Divyeshkumar Amrutlal Joshi.
According to the resolutions of the SC Collegium, the then Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and two senior-most judges of the high court unanimously made the recommendation for the five on September 26, 2022, which was thereafter approved by the then Gujarat Chief Minister and Governor.
Suthar is the principal district and sessions judge in Banaskantha and was previously the registrar general at Gujarat High Court. Pinto is the current principal district and sessions judge in Sabarkantha. Doshi is the current principal district and sessions judge in Godhra, and Mengdey is the principal district and sessions judge in Vadodara.
The SC Collegium resolution recommending Advocate Desai’s elevation as HC judge noted that he “practises predominantly in the city civil court at Ahmedabad” and that “his experience at the Bar in handling cases at the trial level before the city civil court would be an asset particularly in dealing with civil and commercial work in the high court of Gujarat.” The Collegium, which also included Justice SK Kaul and Justice KM Joseph, stated that he had a decent personal and professional image and that nothing had come to their attention regarding his integrity.
The Collegium resolution on Advocate Thakker stated that “she has been opined to be a competent lawyer with practise on both the civil and criminal sides” and that “she has been able to overcome her own physical disabilities and her appointment would bring greater inclusion to the composition of the High Court.”
