HT Digital,
New Delhi, Dec 27: Justice Aniruddha Bose has been appointed to the Supreme Court Collegium post the retirement of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the second most senior judge in the Supreme Court, on December 25.
The Collegium is responsible for suggesting promotions to the Supreme Court and shifting judges between High Courts. The current Collegium comprises Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Justice Bose, who will serve until April 10, 2024.
Upon Justice Kaul’s retirement, Justice Gavai will join the Chief Justice of India and Justice Khanna in the three-judge collegium, which recommends judicial appointments to High Courts.
Justice Kaul had expressed concern over the government’s manipulation of judicial seniority through selective appointments and transfers of High Court judges.
He had previously stressed that the government should not ignore individuals recommended by the Collegium for judicial positions based on their political affiliations or if they had represented a case against the government.
He termed the government’s selective approach in appointing and transferring High Court judges as a pick-and-choose policy.