Newsroom24x7 Staff
New Delhi: In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President today appointed Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 4 January, 2017.
The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
Appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the seniormost Judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office. The Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs seeks the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
Whenever there is any doubt about the fitness of the seniormost Judge to hold the office of the Chief Justice of India, consultation with
other Judges as envisaged in Article 124 (2) of the Constitution is made for appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
After receipt of the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs puts up the
recommendation to the Prime Minister who advises the President in the matter of appointment.
Profile of Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar
Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar was born on August 28, 1952. After graduating in science from Government College, Chandigarh in 1974, he was awarded the LL.B degree by the Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1977, he then acquired the LL. M. qualification from the same University in 1979, for the latter qualification, he was awarded the Gold Medal for having stood first in the University.
Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar was enrolled as an Advocate in 1979 and practiced mainly in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh High Court, Shimla and the Supreme Court of India. He was appointed as Additional Advocate General, Punjab, in January 1992, and then as Senior Standing Counsel, Union Territory, Chandigarh. He was designated as Senior Advocate in February, 1995 and remained standing counsel for Universities of the area, Corporate Bodies and a large number of companies and cooperative organizations.
Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar appeared as counsel for M. Krishnaswamy, M.P. (from the Arani constituency in Tamil Nadu), in the defence of Mr. Justice V. Ramaswami, then Judge of the Supreme Court of India, before the Judges Inquiry Committee (comprising of Mr. Justice P.B. Sawant, then Judge Supreme Court of India; Chief Jutice Mr. P.D. Desai of the Bombay High Court; and Mr. Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India) constituted to investigate the grounds on which the removal of Justice V. Ramaswami was sought.
Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar was elevated to the Bench of High Court of Punjab and Haryana, at Chandigarh, on February 8, 1999. He was appointed as Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court twice with effect from August 02, 2008, and again, with effect from November 17, 2009. He was elevated as Chief Justice of the High Court of Uttarakhand, at Nainital, on November 29, 2009 and thereafter he was transferred as Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka, where he assumed his office on August 8, 2010.
By a notification dated May 20, 2010 the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha appointed Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar as a member of the Judges Inquiry Committee for investigating the grounds on which the removal of Mr. Justice P.D. Dinakaran, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, has been sought.
On appointment as Judge of the Supreme Court of India, Mr. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar assumed office as Judge, Supreme Court on September 13, 2011.
