Centre appoints Justice N V Anjaria as CJ of Karnataka HC

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday cleared the appointment of Justice N V Anjaria as the next Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed it.

In a post on X, the Minister said the President has appointed Justice Anjaria, a judge of the Gujarat High Court, as Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court upon superannuation of Justice P S Dinesh Kumar, the present Chief Justice of the High Court on February 24, 2024.

The Collegium had on February 8 recommended the name of Justice Anjaria to the post.

Justice Anjaria was appointed as a judge of the Gujarat High Court in November 2011 and has been functioning there since then. Before his elevation, he practised in the high court in civil, constitutional, company law, labour and service matters and specialised in civil and constitutional cases.

Incumbent Justice Kumar was appointed as Chief Justice of Karnataka HC on January 31, 2024.

In its statement, the Collegium had said Justice Anjaria is a competent judge with a sound knowledge of law and possesses impeccable integrity and in his conduct as a judge he has maintained the standard required of a person holding high judicial office.

While recommending his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that among the Chief Justices of the High Courts, one judge namely Justice Ashish J Desai whose parent High Court is the High Court of Gujarat is presently functioning as Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala. Justice Desai is due to demit office on 4 July 2024.

Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Justice Anjaria is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, the Collegium had said.