Latest chief justice News | Top chief justice News Headlines Today | Today India news | Breaking chief justice News Today | English chief justice News Headlines - TheDailyGuardian

Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya Appointed Chief Justice of Delhi High Court

January 15, 2025, 11:39 am

The Union Law Ministry on Tuesday announced the appointment of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. Justice Upadhyaya is going to take up the mantle of Chief Justice from Bombay High Court. He was completing the tenure and replacing Justice Vibhu Bakhru who has been acting as Delhi High Court Chief Justice.

Follows Collegium Recommendation

The appointment, notably, follows a proposal by the Supreme Court Collegium. This proposal, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Bhushan R. Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy, and Abhay S. Oka, was dated January 8. Subsequently, the official notification from the ministry read:

“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice, Bombay High Court as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and direct him to assume charge of the office of the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.”

This transfer adds a judge’s strength of the Delhi High Court to 38 but is below the sanctioned number of 60 judges.

Career Achievements by Justice Upadhyaya

Justice Upadhyaya was born in June 1965 in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. He graduated in law from Lucknow University and enrolled with the Allahabad High Court Bar in 1991. His specialties include civil and constitutional laws; he is the main figure to contributed immensely to the Allahabad High Court.

From 2007 to 2011, he was the Chief Standing Counsel for Uttar Pradesh. The Allahabad High Court appointed him as a judge in November 2011 and confirmed him as a permanent judge in August 2013. Justice Upadhyaya was the Senior Judge at the Lucknow Bench before becoming the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in July 2023.

Justice Alok Named Chief Justice of Bombay High Court

The ministry also appointed Justice Alok Aradhe as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, replacing Justice Upadhyaya.

The authority passed and read out a transfer order, exercising the power vested in clause 1 of Article 222 of the Constitution of India. Subsequently, the President, after consulting the Chief Justice of India, has approved the transfer of Justice Alok Aradhe. As a result, he will now assume the role of Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. Moreover, the President has directed him to assume charge as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and take the necessary steps for its implementation.

Justice Aradhe started his practice in 1988, with a specialization in civil, constitutional, arbitration, and company law. He has served in the high courts of Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, and Telangana. His scholarship and contributions to the legal field have earned him accolades.

Retirement Benefits Of Chief Justice Of India: What Will DY Chandrachud Receive As He Retires?

November 12, 2024, 10:01 am

On November 11, 2024, Justice Sanjiv Khanna took the oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI), succeeding Justice DY Chandrachud, whose term concluded on November 10. The new CJI’s swearing-in marks the beginning of his tenure, which is set to last until May 2025. This transition marks an important shift in the leadership of the country’s judiciary.

Justice DY Chandrachud’s Farewell

Justice DY Chandrachud, in his final address before stepping down, expressed a sense of fulfillment as his tenure as CJI came to an end. He remarked, “I won’t be able to deliver justice from tomorrow, but I am content,” as he bid farewell to the role. Chandrachud also took the opportunity to seek forgiveness for any unintended wrongdoings during his time in office, showcasing a humble end to his impactful career.

Post-Retirement Benefits for CJIs

As part of the revisions to retirement benefits for former Chief Justices of India, a retired CJI is entitled to a series of perks aimed at ensuring their well-being and security after retirement. These include:

24/7 Security: A retired CJI is entitled to round-the-clock security at their residence, along with a personal security guard for five years from the date of retirement.
Accommodation and Benefits: Former CJIs are granted six months of rent-free accommodation in Delhi, usually in Type-VII accommodation, which is also available to former Union ministers and MPs.
Continued Services: A retired CJI will continue to receive domestic help and a chauffeur for life. This service is part of the expanded post-retirement benefits available to them.
Airport Lounges and Other Privileges: Retired CJIs and Supreme Court judges are eligible for ceremonial lounges at airports, enhancing their comfort during travel.
Telephone and Communication Benefits: Former CJIs are entitled to a free residential telephone line, as well as reimbursement for communication services such as mobile phone, broadband, and mobile data up to ₹4,200 per month (plus taxes).

Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who has now assumed office as the 51st Chief Justice of India, has had an illustrious career in the Indian judiciary. Before becoming CJI, he was part of many landmark bench decisions, including the one that upheld the abrogation of Article 370.

Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna began his legal career in 1983 after joining the Delhi Bar Council. Known for his meticulous legal approach, he has earned a reputation for his contributions to the legal landscape of India. As CJI, Justice Khanna will serve a tenure of six months, with his retirement expected in May 2025.

The appointment of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as CJI ushers in a new chapter for the Indian judiciary, following the notable tenure of Justice DY Chandrachud. As the 51st CJI, Justice Khanna’s leadership will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the country’s legal system. Meanwhile, the post-retirement benefits for CJIs continue to highlight the importance placed on the welfare of judicial officers who have served at the highest level.

Chief Justice’s Inspiration: Uncle Who Defied Indira Gandhi, Missed Top Judicial Role

November 11, 2024, 4:20 pm

Forty-seven years before Justice Sanjiv Khanna became India’s 51st Chief Justice, the Khanna family was close to having its first Chief Justice through his uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna. However, Justice Khanna’s dissenting opinion during India’s Emergency period prevented him from reaching the nation’s highest judicial position.

Born in 1912, Justice Hans Raj Khanna studied in Amritsar before entering the legal field. He was appointed as a district and sessions judge in 1952 and later served as a high court judge in Delhi and Punjab. In 1971, he ascended to the Supreme Court, positioned to become Chief Justice in 1977.

But fate had different plans. During the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi’s government in 1975, a pivotal case, ADM Jabalpur vs Shivkant Shukla, reached a five-judge Supreme Court bench. The court ruled 4-1 that personal liberty could be suspended in state interests; Justice Khanna was the lone dissenter. He declared preventive detention laws without trial to be “an anathema to all those who love personal liberty,” warning of the erosion of essential human freedoms. Despite being next in line, Justice Khanna was passed over in favor of Justice MH Beg as Chief Justice, leading him to resign.

Justice Khanna is also renowned for his stance in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), where he supported the doctrine that Parliament could amend the Constitution, but its basic structure must remain unchanged.

Also read: Justice Sanjiv Khanna Sworn in as 51st Chief Justice of India

After leaving the judiciary, Justice Khanna was approached by the Janata Party to contest elections and later to lead Emergency-related investigations, but he declined due to potential bias. He briefly served as Law Commission chairman and was offered the Union Law Minister position in 1979, which he resigned from after three days. In 1982, he ran as the opposition’s presidential candidate but lost to Zail Singh. He was honored with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999 and passed away in 2008 at age 95.

Years after his passing, the Supreme Court overruled the ADM Jabalpur verdict in Puttuswamy vs Union of India, acknowledging that Justice Khanna was right to assert that the right to life and liberty exists beyond state control, stating, “life and personal liberty are inalienable to human existence.”

For Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Hans Raj Khanna was an enduring inspiration. Although his parents hoped he would pursue accounting due to the challenges of a legal career, Sanjiv Khanna followed his uncle’s path, drawn by his courage in defending fundamental freedoms. Sources say he admired his uncle’s work and preserved his judgments, notes, and registers, planning to donate them to the Supreme Court library. On his first day as a Supreme Court judge in 2019, Justice Sanjiv Khanna sat in his uncle’s former courtroom, where a portrait of Justice HR Khanna still hangs—a tribute to his legacy.

Chief Justice Chandrachud’s Final 5 Days: Key Verdicts Awaited

October 29, 2024, 4:59 pm

As Chief Justice of India Dr. Dhananjay Yashwant Chandrachud prepares to retire on November 10, his tenure ends a notable two-year period defined by numerous reforms and advancements within the Indian judiciary. Under his leadership, he worked to modernize the judicial system using information technology, enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and inclusivity through several citizen-centric initiatives. These included establishing virtual courts as a permanent feature, launching the E-Courts project to reduce carbon footprint and transition to paperless courts, and implementing services like E-Filing for case submissions, E-Sewa Kendras to aid litigants, E-Copying for faster access to certified copies, and Su-Swagatham, an e-pass system for visitors to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is currently on Diwali break, but once it resumes on November 4, CJI Chandrachud has only five working days left. With his retirement date, November 10, falling on a Sunday, he will step down the prior Friday.

Five Key Verdicts Expected from the CJI-Led Bench by November 8:

1. Validity of Madarsa Education Act: The CJI-led bench is set to rule on appeals from Madarsas and Muslim individuals challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision to invalidate the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004. In reserving judgment, CJI Chandrachud emphasized, “secularism means to live and let live,” and stressed the importance of integrating diverse religious instruction. “The country ought to be a melting pot of cultures, civilisations, and religions. Let us preserve it that way,” he said, advocating for inclusivity in mainstream education.

2. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Minority Status : A seven-judge bench will deliver its judgment on petitions challenging the 1968 verdict that removed AMU’s minority status. The key issue is whether AMU qualifies as a minority institution, given its establishment as a national university by British Parliament in 1920. The Centre argues that AMU’s designation as a university of national importance precludes it from being a minority institution.

3. Wealth Redistribution: A nine-judge bench reviewed Article 39(b) of the Constitution regarding state power in redistributing private wealth for public good. This interpretation coincides with political discourse, sparked by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments on wealth and resource distribution.

4. Delhi Ridge Tree Felling Case: The CJI’s bench will rule on illegal tree felling in Delhi’s ridge area, scrutinizing the role of Delhi’s LG, who claimed ignorance of court approval requirements. The bench has requested additional affidavits clarifying the LG’s knowledge of the incident.

5. Scope of LMV License: Judgment is pending on whether a person with a “light motor vehicle” (LMV) license can drive a “transport vehicle” under 7,500 kg. The decision impacts insurance claim disputes, where insurance companies argue that courts have favored insured parties despite discrepancies in license types.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud Emphasizes Judiciary’s Commitment Amidst Heavy Workload

October 27, 2024, 1:59 pm

At the inaugural Loksatta Annual Lecture in Mumbai, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud highlighted the demanding nature of the judiciary’s workload, emphasizing that judges remain fully committed to their work even during vacations. Stressing the challenges, he noted, “Our judges are not gallivanting or goofing up… they are deeply committed to the work they do,”.

Judges Facing Intense Work Pressure

CJI Chandrachud underlined that judges often lack time to read or reflect on the law outside their regular work duties, unlike other professions where individuals typically have time to learn and analyze. He questioned, “Do we give our judges sufficient time to think or read about the law, or do you just want them to be merely a mechanical machine in the disposal of cases?”

With pending cases across lower courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court numbering in crores, he highlighted insufficient judges and infrastructural issues as primary factors contributing to these delays.

Addressing the judiciary’s collegium system, CJI Chandrachud asserted that while there is room for improvement, criticisms should not suggest any fundamental flaws in the system. The collegium, he explained, is a federal structure involving both the judiciary and government, allowing a “process of consultative dialogue” where consensus is reached through mature discussions.

“Every institution is capable of betterment, but the fact that there are areas for improvement should not lead us to conclude something is fundamentally wrong with it,” he said, adding that the judiciary has stood the test of time and plays a critical role in democratic governance.

Impact of Social Media on Judicial Discourse

CJI Chandrachud also addressed the influence of social media on judicial responsibilities, emphasizing the need for judges to exercise caution in their language. Despite the challenges, he praised social media as beneficial for society, enabling broad reach and accessibility to the public.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, who is set to retire on November 10, will be succeeded by Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India.

PM Modi Defends Participation in Ganesh Puja at Chief Justice’s Residence, Criticizes Congress

September 17, 2024, 3:17 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his recent attendance at a Ganesh Puja hosted by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud in New Delhi on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, dismissing the criticism it drew from opposition parties. Addressing a rally in Bhubaneswar, Modi hit back at the Congress and what he referred to as its “ecosystem,” accusing them of being rattled by his participation in the religious event.

“Those hungry for power have a problem with Ganesh Puja,” the Prime Minister said, drawing parallels between current critics and the British colonial authorities who opposed Ganesh Utsav during India’s struggle for independence. “Even at that time, the British who followed the policy of divide and rule used to hate Ganesh Utsav. Today, the power-hungry people busy dividing society have problems with Ganesh Puja,” he added.

Modi emphasized that Ganesh Utsav has historically been more than just a religious festival, serving as a symbol of unity during the British era when efforts were made to sow division within Indian society. He condemned those opposed to the celebration, accusing them of harboring a “hateful mindset” aimed at creating discord.

“Those who thrive on dividing society still have a problem with Ganesh Utsav today,” the Prime Minister remarked, urging the public not to allow such divisive forces to prevail.

Modi’s remarks come in response to opposition criticism questioning the appropriateness of his involvement in a religious event alongside the judiciary’s highest authority, Chief Justice Chandrachud. The Prime Minister framed the backlash as reflective of a broader intention to divide the nation.

Chief Justice Hosts National Flag At High Court Srinagar For 78th Independence Day

August 15, 2024, 8:01 pm

Srinagar, August 15: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh commemorated the 78th Independence Day with a solemn ceremony at the High Court Wing in Srinagar today. Chief Justice (A) Justice Tashi Rabstan presided over the event, hoisting the National Flag and extending his congratulations to all attendees.

The ceremony was attended by judges stationed at the Srinagar wing of the High Court, including Justice Atul Sreedharan, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Puneet Gupta, Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary, and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi.

Also present were the Advocate General of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, senior advocates, the Registrar General, and judicial officers from both the main and Srinagar wings of the Registry. The Principal District and Sessions Judge of Srinagar, along with judicial officers from his district, also participated in the event.

Following the flag hoisting, a contingent of Armed Forces played patriotic songs and tunes. Justice Tashi Rabstan distributed sweets among the members of the Armed Forces as a gesture of appreciation and camaraderie.

The event highlighted the significance of Independence Day and the collective dedication of the judiciary and legal community to upholding the values of the nation.

Protesters Demand Resignation Of Bangladesh Chief Justice

August 10, 2024, 1:03 pm

Hundreds of protesters surrounded the Bangladesh Supreme Court on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and the judges of the Appellate Division. The protesters, including students and lawyers, gathered at the Supreme Court premises around 10:30 a.m., giving the chief justice a deadline to resign by 1 p.m. local time.

The demonstration was sparked by a Facebook post from Asif Mahmud, an adviser to the Youth and Sports Ministry of the Interim government, who called for the unconditional resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan. Mahmud also demanded the cancellation of a full court meeting planned to decide on the continuation of virtual court proceedings.

In response to the escalating protest, Chief Justice Hassan postponed the full court meeting, which was originally convened to address whether the court’s operations would continue virtually. The situation remains tense as protesters continue to press for immediate action.

Allahabad High Court Registered Suo Moto Case, Issued Directions To Special Courts Across State | Early Disposal Of Cases Against MPs/MLAs

December 26, 2023, 5:02 am

The Allahabad High Court in the case In Re Designated Courts For Mps/Mlas vs. State of U.P observed and has registered the suo moto case, in compliance with the recent direction of Supreme Court’s in order to expedite the disposal of criminal cases pending against the Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies across the state.
The Supreme Court in its order dated November 09, 2023, wherein it is directed to the High Court Chief Justices to register the ‘In Re Designated Courts for MPs/MLAs’ to monitor early disposal of pending criminal cases against MPs/MLAs.

The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Samit Gopal while complying with the order of the Supreme Court. The bench issued the following directions to the special courts in the state:

1. The Advocate General or the Government Advocate will assist the Court in the instant matter.
2. The court is informed that there are separate courts, both at Sessions level and at the level of Magistrate, which deals with criminal cases, exclusively against MPs and MLAs. The special courts will send reports at intervals of one month regarding (i) the progress of the cases pending before them; (ii) the case in which proceedings are lying stayed and details of the cases in which proceedings were stayed.
3. The special courts dealing with such kind of cases shall give priority (i) first to criminal cases against MPs and MLAs which is punishable with death or life imprisonment then to (ii) cases punishable with imprisonment for five years or more, and then hear (iii) other cases.
4. The special courts shall not adjourn the cases except for rare and the compelling reasons.
5. The Principal District and Sessions Judge shall ensure sufficient infrastructure facility for the special courts and also enable it to adopt such technology as is being expedient for effective functioning. In the said regard, if any approval is required from this Court, the same be obtained on the administrative side.
6. If any appeal or revision is pending before the Sessions court against any order of the Magistrate who has tried the case, the details of such cases shall also be included in the monthly return and the same shall also be displayed on the website of this Court.
7. The Sessions courts where such appeals or revisions are pending and it will ensure that the same are decided expeditiously.
Further, it has been directed by the court that the Registrar General to issue directions to the concerned officer of the Registry for ensuring that the cases in which a trial is stayed are listed immediately before the appropriate Bench for extension or vacation of the stay orders.

Therefore, the Registrar General has also been asked in order to ensure that an independent tab on the website of this Court is activated so that district-wise information about the details of the year of filing, the number of subject cases pending and stage of proceedings is clearly reflected.
The court in its order stated to issue necessary directions be issued on the administrative side to the special courts that the aforesaid information shall also have to be updated on a monthly basis.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on January 04, 2024.

Bombay HC summons municipal commissioners due to poor condition of Mumbai roads

August 10, 2023, 2:55 pm

The Bombay High Court has summoned 6 Mumbai municipal commissioners to appear in a contempt petition regarding road potholes. On August 11, a Bombay High Court panel led by Chief Justice will hear the case.

In its order, the court requested the presence of the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Commissioner of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the Commissioner of the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation, the Commissioner of the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation, and the Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority.

“Despite the aforesaid observations made by the Court, it appears that adequate measures have not been taken by the respective Corporations to ensure strict compliance of the order dated 24th February and 12th April 2018,” the court noted.
The court furthermore issued directions after listening to the PIL filed by advocate Ruju R. Thakker

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan appointed acting Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh HC

April 18, 2023, 11:37 am

On Tuesday, the Union Law and Justice Ministry announced the appointment of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, the senior most judge on the Himachal Pradesh High Court, as acting Chief Justice of the High Court.
“As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President has appointed Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, senior-most puisne Judge of Himachal Pradesh High Court as the acting Chief Justice of the same High Court w.e.f. 20.04.2023,” Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a tweet. “I extend my best wishes to him,” Rijiju added. Tarlok Singh Chauhan was born in Tehsil Rohru on January 9, 1964.
He attended Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and was the School Captain.
He graduated with honours from DAV College in Chandigarh and then went on to earn a law degree from Panjab University in Chandigarh.
In 1989, he became a member of the Himachal Pradesh Bar Council.
He began his legal career in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, where he practised in all areas of the law.
Prior to his promotion, he served as Standing Counsel-cum-Legal Advisor to the HP State Electricity Board Ltd., and before that, he served as Standing Counsel-cum-Legal Advisor to the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation.He remained a member of various Lok Adalats and was appointed Amicus-Curiae by the High Court in many important cases relating to the violation of environmental laws by hydel projects, ropeways, etc., a ban on plastic and tobacco products, the implementation of solid waste management projects, and the formulation of Himachal Pradesh’s road construction policy.
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on February 23, 2014, and swore in as a Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on November 30, 2014.

73 years of SC: Singapore Chief Justice to deliver first annual lecture

February 3, 2023, 3:37 pm

The Supreme Court of India is going to complete 73 years on Saturday. Chief Justice of Singapore Sundaresh Menon is scheduled to deliver the first annual lecture for the 73^rd Foundation Day of SC.

Today, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud’s bench is being observed and attended to by Justice Menon. Inviting Justice Menon to give the inaugural lecture on “The Role of the Judiciary in a Changing World” on February 4 in honour of the Supreme Court’s founding anniversary, CJI Chandrachud said it was an honour to have him.

The Supreme Court’s new building complex’s auditorium will host an event to celebrate the Supreme Court’s 73rd anniversary.

The top court of India came into existence in 1950. Earlier, it functioned from the Parliament House till it moved to the present building on Tilak Marg, New Delhi.

Two days after the nation became a Sovereign Democratic Republic on January 28, 1950, the supreme court was established.

The Council of States and the House of the People of India’s Parliament, which is housed in the same structure as the inauguration, meet in the Chamber of Princes.

In 1958, the Court relocated to the current structure. The structure is designed to resemble a set of scales. The centre beam of the scales is the building’s central wing. The East Wing and the West Wing, two New Wings, were built to the complex in 1979. There are a total of 19 courtrooms spread across the building’s various wings.

The largest court is the Chief Justice’s Court, which is situated in the Central Wing’s Center.

The Supreme Court was to have a Chief Justice and seven puisne judges under the original Constitution of 1950, which left it up to Parliament to increase this number. The Supreme Court’s website states that in the early years, all of the judges sat together to hear cases. However, as the court’s workload increased and case backlogs started to accumulate, Parliament increased the number of judges from 8 in 1950 to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986, 31 in 2009, and 34 in 2019 (current strength).

Split decision in the Karnataka Hijab Ban case; CJI to hear case

October 13, 2022, 12:16 pm

In the Karnataka Hijab Ban case, the Supreme Court issued a split decision on Thursday.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday by justice Hemant Gupta and justice Sudhanshu Dhulia. The petitions challenging the hijab prohibition were rejected by Justice Hemant Gupta but were upheld by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.

One of the attorneys for the petitioner stated that the Chief Justice of India will be presented with the case, and he will determine if a new bench will hear the case or whether it should be referred to a larger bench.

Justice Hemant Gupta dismissed appeals contesting the Karnataka High Court decision upholding the state government’s directive to forbid the wearing of hijabs in the state’s educational institutions.

Justice Gupta said, “There is a divergence of opinion. In my order, I have framed 11 questions. First is whether the appeal should be referred to the Constitution Bench.”

The Karnataka High Court ruling was annulled by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, who also accepted the appeals.

“It’s a matter of choice, nothing more, nothing less,” Justice Dhulia said while pronouncing the order.

The supreme court had previously reserved its decision over a number of petitions opposing the Karnataka High Court’s decision to uphold the ban on the hijab in educational institutions.

For ten days, the petitioners’ side was represented by 21 attorneys, while the respondents were represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, and Karnataka Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi.

The Karnataka High Court’s ruling upholding the Karnataka government’s directive to educational institutions to prescribe uniforms at educational institutes was being challenged in court by a number of arguments.

Senior Attorney Dushyant Dave spoke to the court and claimed that the Karnataka Government Circular that enforced the uniform restriction made no mention of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

The Karnataka High Court ruling upholding the Karnataka government’s order directing rigorous enforcement of schools’ and institutions’ uniform regulations has been challenged by a number of petitioners in front of the Supreme Court.

One of the appeals in the top court has alleged the “step-motherly behaviour of government authorities which has prevented students from practising their faith and resulted in an unwanted law and order situation”.

“The appeal said the High Court in its impugned order “had vehemently failed to apply its mind and was unable to understand the gravity of the situation as well as the core aspect of the Essential Religious Practices enshrined under Article 25 of the Constitution of India”.

A Karnataka High Court panel made up of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S. Dixit, and Justice J.M. Khazi previously ruled that the requirement of a uniform is a reasonable restriction to which students cannot object and that numerous petitions opposing the wearing of the hijab in educational settings lack merit.

The hijab controversy arose when the Government PU College in Udupi purportedly forbade six females wearing the hijab from attending school. After that, the girls protested admittance denial by sitting outside the campus.

Following this, male students of numerous colleges in Udupi began showing up to class wearing saffron scarves. This demonstration extended to other regions of the state, sparking dissent and agitation in a number of places in Karnataka.

Because of this, the Karnataka government mandated that all students wear the uniform and outlawed the hijab and saffron scarves until a panel of judges made a decision.

The pre-university education board issued a circular on February 5 informing students that they may only wear the uniform that has been approved by the school administration and that other religious clothing would not be permitted in institutions.

Dipankar Dutta, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, recommended his elevation to the Supreme Court

September 27, 2022, 12:31 pm

Following a flurry of deliberations, the Supreme Court collegium has recommended Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta for appointment as a judge to the highest court.

According to a resolution posted on the court’s website, Justice Dutta’s name was finalised at the collegium meeting on Monday.

The collegium is currently led by Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit and includes justices Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, SA Nazeer, and KM Joseph, the Supreme Court’s first five judges.

This is the collegium’s first recommendation since Justice Lalit took over as CJI on August 27.

The top court currently has 5 vacancies despite having a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.

On September 23, Justice Indira Banerjee was the last judge to resign.

Following back-to-back meetings in the last week, the collegium could decide on a name for elevation to the Supreme Court, according to people familiar with the situation. While the collegium members were unable to reach an agreement in the three meetings held last week, justice Dutta was a unanimous choice on Monday.

Other names for the apex court were also discussed during the meeting, and the collegium may recommend more names during the week, according to people in the know. Furthermore, the collegium deliberated on a few names for the appointment of high court chief justices, and some of them may be approved by the collegium soon.

In June 2006, Justice Dutta, 57, was appointed to the Calcutta High Court.

In April 2020, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

If the collegium’s recommendation is approved by the union government, Justice Dutta will be appointed to the Supreme Court for an eight-year term.