New Delhi: The Supreme Court collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has recommended three lawyers, V.G. Arun, N. Nagaresh, and P.V. Kunhikrishnan, to be appointed as judges of the Kerala high court. Their inter se seniority be fixed as per the existing practice. The Kerala HC collegium had on March 7 had recommended the names of seven lawyers V.G. Arun, N. Nagaresh, P. Gopal, P.V.Kunhikrishnan, S. Ramesh, Viju Abraham, and George Varghese for appointment as Judges and this has the concurrence of the State Government.
As per the resolution, the apex court collegium which included Justices Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph at its meeting on October 9, considered these names for elevation to the high court and decided to recommend three names for elevation, it deferred consideration of three others and dropped one lawyer observing that he is not suitable for elevation.
The resolution said “we have consulted our colleagues conversant with the affairs of the Kerala High Court. For purpose of assessing merit and suitability of the above-named recommendees for elevation to the High Court, we have carefully scrutinized the material placed in the file including the observations made by the Department of Justice.”
The collegium also interacted with these lawyers. On the basis of interaction and having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that V.G.Arun, N. Nagaresh, and P.V. Kunhikrishnan, are suitable for being appointed as Judges of the Kerala High Court.
As regards S. Ramesh, Viju Abraham and George Varghese, having regard to the material on record and all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that their cases deserve to be deferred. As regards P. Gopal, Advocate, the Collegium deems it appropriate not to recommend his name for the present, as he does not qualify the existing norms, his average net professional annual income for the preceding five years being less than the prescribed income limit applicable in case of Bar members.
“We have also taken note of the certain complaints received in the office of Chief Justice of India making allegations against some of the above-named recommendees. On examination, we do not find any prima facie substance in these complaints, which deserve to be ignored”, the resolution said. These recommendations will be processed by the Law Ministry and appointments will be made within a fortnight.
