Collegium recommends six-month extension for three Additional Judges of Chhattisgarh High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended extending the tenures of three additional judges of the Chhattisgarh High Court for a period of six months.

Justices Sharad Kumar Gupta, Ram Prasanna Sharma, and Arvind Singh Chandel were recommended to be appointed as permanent judges by the Chhattisgarh High Court Collegium on January 4, 2019. The recommendation was approved by the Supreme Court Collegium on April 8, 2019.

However, the Centre sent back the recommendation to the Supreme Court Collegium for reconsideration “in light of certain unconfirmed inputs placed in the file.” In this regard, the Collegium has deemed it fit to defer the final decision on the recommendation till the verification of these inputs is complete.

The Collegium has, however, pointed out that the tenures of the three additional judges will expire on June 26.  Thus, till a decision is reached, the Collegium has decided to extend the tenures of the three judges for a period of six months. The resolution states,

“Since the tenure of the above-named Additional Judges is due to expire very shortly on 26th June, 2019, the Collegium recommends that pending final decision to be taken by the Collegium in the matter after verification of the above-mentioned inputs, S/Shri Justices Sharad Kumar Gupta, Ram Prasanna Sharma, and Arvind Singh Chandel be appointed as Additional Judges for a fresh term of six months w.e.f. 27 th June, 2019.”

The three were appointed as additional judges on June 27, 2017.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has a working strength of 15, with 8 permanent judges and 7 additional judges. 7 posts at the High Court are currently vacant.

Read the Resolution:

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