Judicial Accountability

New look five-judge and three-judge collegiums upon Justice S.K. Kaul’s retirement

The Leaflet

Justice Aniruddha Bose has joined the five-judge collegium while Justice B.R. Gavai has joined the three-judge collegium.

ON Tuesday, Justice Aniruddha Bose was inducted to the five-judge Supreme Court Collegium which recommends names for the elevation to the Supreme Court and the transfer of high court judges.

This followed the retirement of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on Monday.

The Supreme Court Collegium now comprises Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices Sanjeev Khanna, B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant and Justice Bose.

Justice Bose will be in the collegium for a brief period as he is slated to retire on April 10 next year.

With Justice Kaul's retirement, Justice Gavai will join the CJI and Justice Khanna in the three-judge collegium which recommends names for the appointment of judges to high courts.

Justice Kaul's retirement has caused one clear vacancy in the Supreme Court. The collegium headed by the CJI has now made a total of 14 appointments to the Supreme Court.

With the slated retirement of Justices Bose, A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli on April 10, May 19 and September 1 next year respectively, the Supreme Court is likely to get four more judges during the collegium headed by CJI Chandrachud.

CJI Chandrachud is scheduled to retire on November 10 next year.