NEW DELHI: The Union government on Friday notified the appointment of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Aravind Kumar as judges of the Supreme Court.
Following this, the top could would have full strength of 34 judges.
In a tweet, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju informed, "As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, Honble President of India has appointed the following Chief Justices of High Courts as Judges of the Supreme Court. My best to them. 1.Rajesh Bindal, Chief Justice, Allahabad HC. 2. Aravind Kumar, Chief Justice, Gujarat HC."
On February 4, the Centre had issued notifications on elevation of Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol, P V Sanjay Kumar, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Manoj Misra as judges of the Supreme Court. All five judges had assumed the office on February 6.
The six-member Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud had on January 31 unanimously resolved to approve name of Justice Bindal, who hailed from Punjab and Haryana High Court, and stood at number two in the combined all India seniority list of High Court judges, for appointment as Supreme Court judge.
However, Justice K M Joseph made reservations on the name of Justice Kumar, who is originally from the Karnataka High Court. Justice Joseph, a Collegium member, opined that his name may be considered at a later date.
"After carefully evaluating the merit, integrity and competence of eligible Chief Justices and senior puisne Judges of the High Courts and also accommodating a plurality of considerations, the Collegium finds the (two) persons to be more deserving and suitable in all respects for being appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India," a detailed statement had said.
The Collegium, also comprised Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, K M Joseph, M R Shah, Ajay Rastogi and Sanjiv Khanna.
Justice Bindal was appointed as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 22, 2006.
He was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad on October 11, 2021.
He is the seniormost Judge hailing from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is one of the largest High Courts with a sanctioned strength of 85 judges.
"The Punjab and Haryana High Court is not adequately represented on the bench of the Supreme Court. This is a common High Court for two States," the Collegium noted.
Justice Kumar was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court on June 26, 2009 and as permanent Judge on December 7, 2012. He was elevated as Chief Justice of the High Court of Gujarat on October 13, 2021.
Justice Kumar stands at serial number 26 in the combined all-India-seniority of High Court Judges.
