‘What kind of rethink do you want on Andhra CJ choice?’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court collegium has asked the law ministry to furnish details as to why it should reconsider the recommendation for the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi wrote to law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on July 8, asking the government to give “reasons and the kind of reconsideration” in appointing Justice Vikram Nath, currently with the Allahabad High Court, as chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh HC, ET has gathered.

“File relating to the proposal for appointment of Mr Justice Vikram Nath as chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has been sent back for reconsideration…the kind of reconsideration and the reasons have not been indicated,” CJI Gogoi is believed to have written in his communication to the law ministry.

The SC collegium had recommended Justice Nath as Chief Justice on April 8 and the Centre had requested the SC collegium to reconsider its recommendation last month. While beginning his new stint as law minister, Prasad had said that his ministry will not be a ‘post office’ but ‘a stakeholder’ in judicial appointments.


Legal sources told ET that some concerns were raised regarding Justice Nath’s case, which required detailed examination.

“Mr Justice Vikram Nath is the senior-most judge from Allahabad High Court and is functioning in that high court since his elevation. Having regard to all relevant factors, the collegium finds Mr Justice Vikram Nath suitable in all respects for being appointed as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court,” the collegium had said while recommending Justice Nath’s name. It also said that the office of the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh HC after constitution of a separate high court had been vacant since inception. Justice C Praveen Kumar officiates as Chief Justice at present.