New Delhi: The government on Thursday initiated the process to appoint the next Chief Justice of India as incumbent B.R. Gavai is set to demit office on November 23, sources said.
A letter requesting Justice Gavai to recommend his successor is expected to be delivered either on Thursday evening or Friday, according to officials familiar with the procedure for appointing Supreme Court and High Court judges.
As per the memorandum of procedure, which governs the appointment, transfer, and elevation of SC and HC judges, the office of the Chief Justice of India is to be filled by the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court deemed fit for the role.
Conventionally, the recommendation request is sent a month prior to the incumbent CJI’s retirement at the age of 65. The Union Law Minister seeks the outgoing CJI’s recommendation “at the appropriate time” for the appointment of his successor.
Justice Surya Kant, the seniormost judge after CJI Gavai, is next in line. Once appointed, he will assume office on November 24 and serve as Chief Justice for nearly 15 months, until February 9, 2027.
With PTI inputs