SC appoints AAG as High Court judge

NEW DELHI, July 17: The Supreme Court on Monday recommended the appointment of Additional Advocate-General (AAG) Biswadeep Bhattacharjee as a judge of the High Court of Meghalaya.
With his appointment, the high court has reached the full strength of four judges, including the Chief Justice.
The Supreme Court Collegium resolved on July 12 that Bhattacharjee’s elevation to the bench would be a ‘value addition’ to the high court, a statement from the apex court said. Bhattacharjee has been holding the post of AAG in Meghalaya since 2018.
The High Court Collegium had recommended Bhattacharjee’s name on August 12 last year but no constitutional functionary gave any input on the proposal. Hence, the Collegium decided to move ahead with forwarding the proposal to the Supreme Court.
“The proposal has, therefore, been forwarded by the Department of Justice to the Supreme Court by invoking Para 14 of the Memorandum of Procedure which provides that if the comments of the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister are not received within six weeks from the date of receipt of the proposal, it shall be presumed that the constitutional authorities in the state have nothing to add to the proposal and the proposal may accordingly be processed,” the resolution noted.
Subsequently, a judge of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Meghalaya was consulted.
“AAG Bhattacharjee has a good standing at the Bar, knowledge across matters, and has been Amicus Curiae in two criminal appeals, the Supreme Court Collegium noted. Nothing adverse was reported with regard to his personal integrity, the Collegium further observed.
His name for elevation to the high court was thus resolved.
It was, therefore, resolved to recommend his name for elevation to the High Court of Meghalaya bench.