Two days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended their names, the Centre on Wednesday appointed Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and Justice Vipul Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court as judges of the top Court.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint (i) Shri Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice, Bombay High Court and (ii) Shri Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Chief Justice, Patna High Court as Judges of the Supreme Court of India,” Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a post on X.
The Centre’s nod comes amidst a controversy on the Collegium’s recommendation on Justice Pancholi since it was not a unanimous decision. Justice BV Nagarathna, one of the five judges of the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai is learnt to have dissented against the recommendation. Her opposition cited his overall seniority and the imbalance in regional representation. Justice Pancholi currently ranks 57th in the All-India List of Seniority of High Court judges. With his appointment, Gujarat HC will have three of its judges in the top court.
Sources told the Indian Express that the government has also cleared the names of 14 advocates who were recommended for appointment as judges of the Bombay High Court on August 19.
