Writ filed to clear pending names as HC addl judges

Chennai, Feb 23 (UNI) A writ petition was today filed in Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Union Law Ministry and the Tamil Nadu Government to approve the names of two advocates for appointment as additional judges in the High Court.

The case would come up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Mr Justice M Venugopal on February 25.

Revenue Bar Association, Chennai, President Jayakumar submitted that the High Court Chief Justice had recommended five names for the appointment. Of them, Messrs V Periyakaruppiah, M Venugopal and K K Sasidharan were appointed to the post in November, 2007.

However, the names of Satyanarayan and Kannan were awaiting clearance from the Union Law Ministry.

He contended that according to the Constitution, once the Collegium of the Supreme Court cleared the names for appointment as judges in High Courts, the Centre was expected to approve it.

The High Court currently had 46 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 49.

The Union Law Ministry, Madras High Court and the State Law Secretary were named as respondents in the writ petition.

UNI XR JJ RL AS1912