The Supreme Court collegium on Monday recommended the name of Justice RS Chauhan for the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court.
Justice Chauhan, the senior-most judge from Rajasthan High Court, is presently the Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
“Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr Justice RS Chauhan is suitable in all aspects for being appointed as Chief Justice of Telangana High Court. The Collegium resolves the recommend accordingly,” the collegium notification states.
The office of the Telangana CJI has been vacant since March, after former Chief Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan was transferred to Calcutta High Court. Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan was the first Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, which came into being on January 1, 2019, after the erstwhile Hyderabad High Court was bifurcated. The separate High Court for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were created on January 1, 2019. Though the Andhra Pradesh government had earlier asked the Supreme Court to extend the deadline for the High Court bifurcation, the SC declined their proposal and asked them to prepare the facility in Andhra Pradesh on time.
Even after four years of bifurcation of the two Telugu states in 2014, the Hyderabad High Court continued to be the common High Court.
Apart from Justice Chauhan's appointment as Telangana CJI, Gujarat High Court judge Justice D N Patel was recommended for the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. Another senior Gujarat High Court judge, Justice A A Kureshi, was recommended as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court. Madras High Court judge Justice V Ramasubhramanian has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.