D.Y. Chandrachud Appointed 50th Chief Justice of India
The President of India appointed Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) with effect from November 9, 2022. He will take over as the 50th CJI after incumbent CJI U. U. Lalit retires.
The outgoing CJI had recommended Justice Chadrachud's name to take the reins of the judiciary on October 11. Justice Chandrachud would have a term of over two years until November 10, 2024.
Lauded as a feminist judge for his reasoning, Justice Chandrachud spoke to young law graduates recently and told them to incorporate a feminist way of thinking while dealing with the law.
He practiced law before the SC and the Bombay High Court (HC) and was designated a senior advocate by the Bombay HC in June 1998.
He served as the Additional Solicitor General of India from 1998 until he was appointed a judge of the Bombay HC in March 2000. He was later appointed as Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC on October 31, 2013.
He was appointed judge of the SC on May 13, 2016.
Oct 17, 2022
Justice Magrey Sworn in as Chief Justice of High Court of J-K and Ladakh
Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to Justice Magrey at a ceremony at SKICC.
The warrant of appointment of Justice Magrey as Chief Justice was read out by the Registrar General of the High Court.
The ceremony was attended by politicians and senior officers of the police and civil administration.
Oct 16, 2022
CJI Lalit Recuses Himself from Hearing Plea of Ex-CM Karnataka Yediyurappa
Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and former State Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani against the Karnataka High Court order, which allowed restoration of a criminal case against them in the alleged illegal land de-notification case.
After the matter was listed before the Supreme Court Bench headed by the CJI and also comprising Justice Hemant Gupta, Justice Lalit refused to hear the same, stating that he was having some difficulty. He then directed the Registry to list the issue before another Bench, of which he was not a member.
Oct 15, 2022
Supreme Court Delivers Split Verdict in Karnataka Hijab Ban Case
Two judges on a Supreme Court bench delivered opposing verdicts in the hijab controversy, and asked the Chief Justice to constitute an appropriate bench to adjudicate in the case that stemmed from a ban on wearing the Islamic head covering in Karnataka schools.
While Justice Hemant Gupta dismissed the appeals challenging the March 15 judgment of the Karnataka High Court which had refused to lift the ban, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia held there shall be no restriction on the wearing of hijab anywhere in the schools and colleges of the state.
With the apex court delivering a split verdict, the high court's judgment still holds the field. However, the split verdict held off a permanent resolution of the vexed row over hijab as both judges suggested placing the matter before a larger bench for adjudication.
Oct 14, 2022
Transgenders Entitled to Special Quota for 3rd Gender: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court held without hesitation that transgenders are entitled to a special reservation for third gender viz., transgender category for admission to post basic (nursing) and post basic diploma in psychiatry nursing courses.
The court directed the Secretary, Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare department, Director of Medical Education (DME), Chennai, and Secretary (selection committee), DME, to treat the petitioner S. Tamilselvi as third gender/ transgender and accordingly place her in a special category, i.e. transgender category for admission to the course for the academic year 2022-23 for which the present merit list has been issued by the secretary, selection committee, only for female and male candidates.
Tamilselvi had moved the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the authorities to quash the prospectus issued for the Post Basic (Nursing) Course and Post Basic Diploma in Psychiatry Nursing Course for the academic year 2022-2023, as illegal for not categorising transgenders under special category.