NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on Monday the elevation of two judges as Chief Justices of the Bombay and Andhra Pradesh High Courts. Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, currently serving in the Allahabad High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, while Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, who hails from the Bombay High Court, has been elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Notably, Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur is the younger brother of former Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, adding a familial connection to this significant judicial appointment.

The recommendation for Justice Thakur's elevation to Chief Justice was put forth by the collegium, which highlighted that a previous recommendation for his appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur had remained pending with the Union government since February 9, 2023.

"After careful consideration of all relevant factors, the Collegium firmly believes that Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur possesses the qualities and suitability required to serve as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh," the collegium stated, according to reports.

Therefore, the Collegium, in a decisive move, decided to supersede its previous recommendation of February 9, 2023, and resolved to recommend Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur's appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

In another noteworthy event earlier this month, the Supreme Court collegium rejected the request for a choice posting made by three High Court judges, leading to their transfer. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal subsequently announced the transfer of the judges, namely Dinesh Kumar Singh, Manoj Bajaj, and Gaurang Kanth. The President of India, after consulting with the Chief Justice of India and exercising the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, issued the transfer orders.

This appointment and transfer of judges hold significant implications for the administration of justice in these states, further reinforcing the importance of a robust and impartial judiciary system in the country.

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