Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman retires today, focus back on appointments deadlock

Thursday, 12 August 2021Newsdesk

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman, the second most senior judge of the Supreme Court, retires Thursday and his exit, apart from adding to the vacancy list, will return the spotlight on the unprecedented impasse within the Collegium over appointment of judges that has been there for nearly 22 months now.

New Delhi, 12 August 2021

Sources told The Indian Express that Justice Nariman, who has been part of the Supreme Court Collegium since March 2019, has stood firm that no consensus can emerge on names unless two judges who are most senior in the All India Seniority List for High Court judges are first recommended. Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Abhay Oka is No. 1 on the seniority list, followed by Tripura High Court Chief Justice Akil Kureshi. While Justice Oka’s parent High Court is Bombay, Justice Kureshi is from the Gujarat High Court. With Justice Nariman’s retirement, the Supreme Court will have only 25 judges against a sanctioned strength of 34 judges. Additionally, Justice Navin Sinha is set to retire on August 19, which will leave the Supreme Court with 10 vacancies to be filled.

Source -indianexpress.com