SC Collegium named Justice Ritu Bahri as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court
The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, leads the Supreme Court Collegium that has recommended Justice Ritu Bahri as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand. Justice Bahri has been a Judge at the High Court of Punjab and Haryana since August 2010 and is the most senior puisne Judge in that court. Prior to her appointment, she practiced at the High Court of Punjab and Haryana after being enrolled in the Bar in 1986.
She practiced civil, constitutional, taxation, labor, and service law, with a specialization in tax and service matters. Over the course of 24 years, she held various positions, including Assistant Advocate General, Deputy Advocate General, and Senior Deputy Advocate General, in the state of Haryana. The SC Collegium noted that “during her tenure of 13 years as a Judge of High Court, she authored 843 reported judgments of which 247 were delivered during last five years”.
"She has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice in one of the largest High Courts in the country. She is a competent judge endowed with a high level of integrity, conduct and character", it added. In a statement, the SC Collegium said that at present, there is only one Chief Justice to represent the High Court of Punjab and Haryana and the elevation of Justice Bhari would enhance the representation of women among the Chief Justices of the High Courts.
"The Collegium is of the considered view that Ms. Justice Ritu Bahri is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand", it added. A vacancy in the office of the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court has arisen consequent upon the retirement of Justice Vipin Sanghi on October 26 this year.
The Memorandum of Procedure relating to the appointment of the Chief Justice of a High Court provides that, "a fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity".
