Successor notified, acting HP CJ to retire as 'justice'

NEW DELHI: The law ministry on Tuesday notified the appointment of Justice TS Chauhan, senior-most judge of Himachal Pradesh high court, as its acting Chief Justice with effect from April 20. He succeeds Justice Sabina, presently acting CJ of Himachal HC, who retires on April 19.

In a resolution on February 7, the SC collegium, headed by CJI DY Chandrachud, had recommended to the government to appoint Justice Sabina as chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh HC.

Bombay, Calcutta and sixother HCs have acting CJs
Justice Sabina was appointed acting chief justice of the HC in January. "Having regard to the seniority of Justice Sabina, the collegium resolves to recommend that she be appointed as Chief Justice of the HC of Himachal Pradesh as she is fit and suitable in all respects for the same. Ms Justice Sabina shall have a tenure of about two months before she retires as Chief Justice on April 19, 2023," the SC collegium had said.

But, the government delayed notifying her appointment as CJ and now it has notified the appointment of Justice Chauhan as the acting CJ, a day before Justice Sabina's retirement.

Currently, eight HCs in the country have acting CJs, including those of Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal, Manipur and Tripura. Justice T Raja has been acting CJ of Madras HC since September last year. He will retire on May 24. Justice Sanjay Gangapurwala is acting CJ of Bombay HC since December 12. He has more than a year to retire.