Seven Judges Sworn In at Delhi High Court
Seven Judges Sworn In at Delhi High Court
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Key Points
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Four sitting Delhi High Court judges are due to retire in the coming months: Justice C.S. Sudha in October, Justice Anil Kshetarpal in November, and Justices Girish Kathpalia and Manoj Jain later this year. The court’s second-most senior judge, Justice V. Kameswar Rao, has also been appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
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The swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for 10 a.m. on the Delhi High Court premises, with Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya administering the oath.
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The Law Ministry’s appointment notification invoked the President’s constitutional power to appoint High Court judges “after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.”
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The appointees’ district-court backgrounds included Nisha Sahay Saxena as principal district and sessions judge of Rohini’s North-West district, Sanjay Sharma-I in the Karkardooma North-East district, and Dinesh Bhatt as principal district judge-cum-special judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Rouse Avenue Courts.
Seven judicial officers were sworn in as judges of the Delhi High Court, raising the court's working strength to approximately 50 against a sanctioned strength of 60. Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya administered the oath at the ceremony. Two judges received permanent appointments—Nivedita Anil Sharma and Nisha Sahay Saxena—while five others, including Bharat Parashar and Arun Bhardwaj, were appointed as additional judges for an initial two-year term.
Supreme Court Collegium Recommended Eight Names
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended eight names for judicial appointments on September 10. The central government approved seven of these appointments but withheld approval for Gurvinder Pal Singh, whose reasons for rejection remain unstated. This selective approval highlights ongoing tensions between the judiciary and the executive branch over judicial appointments.
Multiple Retirements Creating Urgent Staffing Gaps
The Delhi High Court faces several significant retirements in coming months. Justice C.S. Sudha will retire in October, followed by Justice Anil Kshetarpal in November. Justices Girish Kathpalia and Manoj Jain will also retire later this year. Additionally, Justice V. Kameswar Rao, the court's second-most senior judge, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. These departures make the seven new appointments critical for maintaining judicial capacity.
From District Courts to High Court Bench
The newly appointed judges bring extensive district-court experience to the High Court. Nisha Sahay Saxena served as principal district and sessions judge of Rohini's North-West district. Sanjay Sharma-I worked in the Karkardooma North-East district. Dinesh Bhatt held the position of principal district judge-cum-special judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Rouse Avenue Courts. Several appointees have also served in administrative capacities, including Bharat Parashar as Supreme Court Secretary General and Arun Bhardwaj as Delhi High Court Registrar General.
Additional Judges Face Two-Year Probationary Period
Five of the seven appointees received designations as additional judges rather than permanent judges. Additional judges typically serve for two years before the Supreme Court Collegium considers confirming them as permanent judges. This means Sanjay Sharma-I, Bharat Parashar, Aditi Choudhary, Dinesh Bhatt, and Arun Bhardwaj will undergo a probationary evaluation period. Their performance during this term will determine whether they receive permanent appointments to the bench.
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