SC Collegium clears 7 names for judges of Gujarat High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium cleared the recommendations made by the Collegium of the Gujarat High Court to appoint 7 persons as judges

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of five judicial officers and two advocates as judges of the Gujarat High Court.

The judicial officers whose names are recommended are Susan Valentine Pinto,Hasmukhbhai Dalsukhbhai Suthar, Jitendra Champaklal Doshi, Mangesh Rameshchandra Mengdey and Divyeshkumar Amrutlal Joshi.

The advocates whose names are recommended are Devan Mahendrabhai Desai and Moxa Kiran Thakker.

The Gujarat High Court Collegium comprising the then Chief Justice and two senior-most judges had unanimously made the recommendation on September 26 2022. The Chief Minister of Gujarat and the Governor too had concurred with the recommendation.

"For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the candidates for elevation to the High Court, we have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record, including the inputs furnished by the Intelligence Bureau. We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file," the recommendation notification said.

Devan Mahendrabhai Desai is 52 years old and has considerable standing at the Bar. He practices predominantly in the City Civil Court at Ahmedabad. His experience at the Bar in handling cases at the trial level before the City Civil Court would be an asset particularly in dealing with civil and commercial work in the High Court of Gujarat. We have duly considered the opinions of the consultee-judges. We have also analysed the IB report and find that Shri Desai enjoys a good personal and professional

image and nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity. In view of the above, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Shri Devan Mahendrabhai Desai is suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Gujarat, the collegium said.

The Collegium has duly considered the concurrent opinion of the consultee-judges in regard to the suitability of Moxa Kiran Thakker for elevation to the High Court. She has been opined to be a competent lawyer with practice both on the civil and criminal sides. The IB has opined that she enjoys a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to her integrity. She has been able to overcome her own physical disabilities and her appointment would bring greater inclusion to the composition of the High Court. In view of the above, the Collegium is of the considered opinion that Ms Moxa Kiran Thakker is suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Gujarat, the Supreme Court Collegium comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph said.