![Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Chief Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and S Venkatanarayana Bhatti as Judges to Apex Court [Read Recommendation]](/secure/uploads/2023/07/lj_2928_918e220d-c227-48ca-97a4-bcdead511b84.jpg)
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday recommended for the elevation of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Chief Justice of Telangana High Court and Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti, Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court as judges to the apex court.
On July 5, the five-judge Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud took its decision 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.
It also considered the need to ensure diversity and inclusion in the Supreme Court by looking into representation of High Courts, appointment of persons from marginalised and backward segments of society; gender diversity; and representation of minorities.
The Collegium found Justice Bhuyan, who hailed from the Gauhati HC and Justice Bhatti from Andhra Pradesh High Court, as "deserving and suitable in all respects for being appointed as judges of the Supreme Court of India".
The Collegium also comprised Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai and Surya Kant.
The Supreme Court, which has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, is presently functioning with 31 judges.
Justice Bhuyan was appointed as a judge of the Gauhati High Court on October 17, 2011. He is the senior-most judge of his parent High Court and is presently serving as Chief Justice of the High Court for the State of Telangana since June 28, 2022.
Justice Bhuyan has served as a judge of the Gauhati High Court and as Chief Justice of High Court for the State of Telangana. During his long tenure as a judge of the High Court, Justice Bhuyan has acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law.
Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 12 April 2013 and is the senior- most in his parent High Court. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh does not have any representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court since August, 2022. He was transferred to the High Court of Kerala in March 2019 and is presently serving as Chief Justice there since June 1, 2023.
During his long tenure as a judge of the High Court of Andhra High Pradesh and as a judge and subsequently as Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala, Justice Bhatti has acquired considerable experience in various branches of law.
"Apart from according representation to the State of Andhra Pradesh, the appointment of Justice Bhatti will provide a value addition in terms of his acquired knowledge and experience. He commands a good reputation and possesses integrity and competence," the Collegium said.
