A row has erupted between the Supreme Court collegium and the government of India over the former's recommendation for the position of the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Centre has reportedly returned the Collegium's recommendation and asked it to change its decision.
It was on April 8 that the collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had recommended the name of Justice Vikram Nath, the senior-most judge in the Allahabad High Court, for elevation as the chief justice of the AP High Court.
"Having regard to all relevant factors, the collegium finds Justice Vikram Nath suitable in all respects for being appointed as the chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The collegium resolves to recommend accordingly," a resolution by the Collegium stated.
However, the Central government has reportedly not given a reason for asking the collegium to reconsider its recommendation.
Following this, Ranjan Gogoi is reported to have shot off a letter to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, asking him for "the kind of reconsideration and the reasons."
In February this year, the Andhra HC moved to a new building at Amaravati on a temporary basis after functioning out of the Hyderabad High Court for four-and-half years.
The two-storied interim building located at Nelapadu in Amaravati region has 16 court halls, 12 of them on the first floor.
The construction of the actual High Court building which will be located at Justice City in the capital region is yet to start. The complex will house 36 court halls in the first phase and will have provisions for adding 24 more court halls in the future.
The ancillary buildings that will make up Justice City will have support ecosystems like City Courts, tribunals, residences and other facilities.