Central Govt Appoints Acting Chief Justices for Madras & Madhya Pradesh HCs

The central government, through the Ministry of Law and Justice, notified on Wednesday the appointment of the Acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Appointment Notifications

As per the notification for the Madras High Court, “In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint ‘Justice R. Mahadevan,’ Judge of the Madras High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from May 24, 2024, consequent upon the retirement of Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala, Chief Justice, Madras High Court on May 23, 2024.”

The notification for the Madhya Pradesh High Court stated that in the exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint ‘Justice Sheel Nagu,’ Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from May 25, 2024, consequent upon the retirement of Justice Ravi Vijay Kumar Malimath, Chief Justice, Madhya Pradesh High Court on May 24, 2024.

Background of Justice R. Mahadevan

Justice R. Mahadevan was born on June 10, 1963, in Chennai. He completed his law degree at Madras Law College and enrolled in 1989. He practiced in civil, criminal, and writ sides, specializing in indirect taxes, customs, and Central Excise matters for 25 years. He served as an Additional Government Pleader (Taxes) for the Government of Tamil Nadu, as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel, and as Senior Panel Counsel for the Government of India at the Madras High Court, handling more than 9000 cases. He was elevated as a judge of the Madras High Court in 2013.

Background of Justice Sheel Nagu

Justice Sheel Nagu was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on May 27, 2011, and has been serving there since then. Before his elevation as a Judge, he practiced at the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Constitutional, service, labor, and criminal cases. During his tenure of over 12 years as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, he has authored more than 499 reported judgments.

Supreme Court Collegium

On December 27, 2023, the Supreme Court collegium recommended the appointment of Justice Sheel Nagu as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, stating that Justice Sheel Nagu is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana.

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