SC Collegium Recommends Appointment Of Justice Rao As Chief Justice of HP

The Supreme Court Collegium recently recommended that Justice MS Ramachandra Rao be appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

The Collegium, comprised of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, noted in its resolution published on the top court website that, “In accordance with the Memorandum of Procedure, consultation has been held with the consultee-Judge/s to determine Mr Justice M S Ramachandra Rao’s suitability for appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. The proposed appointment has been approved by the consultee-Judge/s.”

“He is the senior-most among puisne judges originating from the High Court for the State of Telangana. The State of Telangana has no representation among Chief Justices of the High Courts. Justice M S Ramachandra Rao has acquired experience of dispensing justice in two High Courts,” the Collegium resolution further stated.

In light of the foregoing, the Collegium decided to recommend Justice M S Ramachandra Rao for appointment as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

On June 29, 2012, Justice M S Ramachandra Rao was appointed to the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

When the state of Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, he chose Telangana as his parent High Court.

On October 12, 2021, he was transferred to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, where he is now a judge.