DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 4: A Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana, has recommended the elevation of Kakheto Sema, the Additional Advocate General of Nagaland, as a Judge of Gauhati High Court.
Sema was one of the 5 persons approved for elevation as Judge of Gauhati High Court during a meeting of the 3-member Collegium held on September 1.
The 4 other persons in the list were: Advocates Devashis Baruah and Arun Dev Choudhury, and Judicial Officers Malasri Nandi and Marli Vankung, both women.
According to reports, the Collegium comprising the CJI, Justice UU Lalit and Justice AM Khanwilkar had recommended to the Central Government 68 names for elevation as Judges of 12 High Courts across the country.
Speaking to Nagaland Page on Saturday, Sema said that it would be a “little premature” for him to comment on the development as the Union Government has yet to appoint him.
Even though the Supreme Court Collegium has approved the proposal to elevate him as a Judge, Sema said that they were yet to receive the presidential warrant of appointment.
Only after the receipt of warrant of appointment from the President, Sema said he will be called to Gauhati for oath-taking.
“After that only, I can be a full-fledged Judge. So I think it is a little premature for me to acknowledge”, he said.
An official of High Court Bar Association, Kohima, also pointed out that the Collegium has only recommended Sema’s name.
“The (Union) Government will issue the appointment order. But more or less, they will accept the Supreme Court’s recommendations. It is 99% sure”, he said.
The official also informed that Sema joins a list of 6 others from Nagaland to occupy such positions at the Supreme Court and High Courts.
They include HK Sema, former SC Judge; WA Shishak, former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court; LS Jamir, Senior Judge of Manipur High Court; K Merünuo, Judge of Gauhati High Court; Hukato Swu, Judge of Gauhati High Court and Zelre Angami, Judge of Gauhati High Court.
The first four on the list were from the Bar while the final two were from the Bench, he informed. The latest entrant, Sema, is also a member of the Bar.
Meanwhile, updates on Saturday stated that out of the total 68 names cleared by the Collegium, 12 are reiterations, which include 9 Advocates and 3 Judicial Officers for 5 High Courts. These names were earlier returned to the Collegium for reconsideration by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.
The recommendations have been made for the High Courts of Allahabad, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab & Haryana, Calcutta, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gauhati, Karnataka, Madras, Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir.
The maximum recommendations have been made for the Allahabad High Court. The names of 13 Advocates have been proposed and the names of 3 Judicial Officers have been reiterated for the Allahabad High Court. Ten names have been proposed for Calcutta High Court and 8 for the Kerala High Court.
Forty-four of the total names recommended are Advocates and 24 are Judicial Officers. As per the latest statistics, the High Courts have 465 vacancies against a total strength of 1089 Judges.
(Page News Service)
