New Delhi: The Supreme Court collegium on Thursday unanimously recommended to the Centre the name of Delhi High Court Chief Justice Manmohan for elevation to the apex court.
“The Supreme Court Collegium has, therefore, unanimously recommended that Mr. Justice Manmohan be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India,” the resolution by the collegium said.
CJI-headed collegium deliberated on several names
The five-member collegium comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy and AS Oka in its meeting held on Thursday deliberated on and discussed the names of Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of the High Courts eligible for appointment to the Supreme Court and recommended the name of Justice Manmohan for appointment as the top court judge.
The collegium, in its resolution, said that Justice Manmohan stands at serial number two in the combined all-India seniority of High Court judges and he is the senior-most Judge in the Delhi High Court.
Supreme Court is represented by only one Judge from Delhi High Court, collegium noted
“While recommending his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that, at present, the bench of Supreme Court is represented by only one Judge from the High Court of Delhi,” the collegium said.
There are currently two vacancies in apex court
The Supreme Court, which has the sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI, is currently working with 32 judges. The vacancies arose in the apex court following the retirements of Justice Hima Kohli and former CJI DY Chandrachud.
Justice Manmohan, who is the son of bureaucrat-turned politician late Jagmohan, was appointed as an additional Judge of the Delhi High Court on March 13, 2008 and was made a permanent judge on December 17, 2009. Hhas been functioning as the Chief Justice of that High Court since September 29, 2024. He was earlier appointed as the acting chief justice of the Delhi High Court on November 9, 2023.
