SC Collegium Recommends Appointment of Five Additional Judges of K’taka HC as Permanent Judges

The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, has recommended the names of five additional judges of the Karnataka High Court for appointment as permanent judges of that court.

The three-member collegium additionally recommended the appointment of Justice Gurusiddaiah Basavaraja as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court for a renewed one-year term, commencing on August 16, 2024.

According to an April 3 resolution of the apex court collegium, which also comprises Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai, the high court collegium had unanimously recommended on January 20 that five additional judges be appointed as permanent judges and the term of additional judge Basavaraja be extended for a further period of one year.

“The Chief Minister and the Governor of the State of Karnataka have conveyed their agreement with the above recommendation,” noted the Supreme court collegium in the resolution uploaded on its website.

“Having considered all aspects of the matter and on an overall consideration of the above proposal, the Collegium is of the view that Justices Cheppudira Monnappa Poonacha, Anil Bheemsen Katti, Chandrashekhar Mrutyunjaya Joshi, Umesh Manjunathbhat Adiga, and Talkad Girigowda Shivashankare Gowda, additional judges, are fit and suitable for being appointed as permanent judges,” the Collegium stated.

The resolution affirmed the collegium’s complete agreement with the recommendation concerning Justice Basavaraja by the high court collegium, asserting that he merited appointment as an additional judge for a new term of one year. It noted the signing of the top court collegium’s resolution by two members, citing Justice Gavai’s absence due to travel.

“He has, however, verbally conveyed his agreement with the above proposal. His written consent would be placed on the record in due course. The proposal may be processed without waiting for the written consent of the third member of the Collegium since the term of one of the additional judges is going to expire on April 16, 2024,” it added.