Collegium recommends Justice Vazifdar as CJ of Punjab

New Delhi, May 15: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the name of Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar to head the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Highly-placed sources said the SC Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, met recently and recommended the elevation of Justice Vazifdar.

Justice Vazifdar had assumed charge as the Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 15, 2014 after being transferred from the Bombay High Court.

Meanwhile, sources in the government said the file relating to the transfer of Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph to the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana High Court along with that of other judges is "under process." Karnataka High Court Chief Justice S K Mukherjee is likely to replace Joseph.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recently made these recommendations. The transfer of Justice Joseph, who has been in the news recently following the verdict quashing imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand, was criticised by former Law Minister and Congress leader M Veerappa Moily and former Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising, who claimed it will dent the independence of judiciary.

Acting Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh/Telangana High Court Justice D B Bhonsle was recommended for the post of Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court in place of Justice D Y Chandrachud, who has been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court.

Justice N Kumar, a senior judge of the Karnataka High Court could be made Acting Chief Justice of that High Court.

PTI