New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium Headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Thursday recommended the appointment of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
Justice Thakur, whose parent High Court is the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, has been a judge of the Bombay High Court since June 10, 2022.
The Collegium’s resolution details that the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court does not have representation amongst Chief Justices of High Courts since the retirement of Justice AM Magrey.
“The office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur has fallen vacant recently consequent upon the elevation of Mr Justice P V Sanjay Kumar to the Supreme Court of India. Therefore, appointment to that office is required to be made,” the Collegium said. “Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur is the senior most Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He was appointed on 08 March 2013 and has been functioning, on transfer, as a Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay since 10 June 2022,” it noted. The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh does not have representation among the Chief Justices of the High Court’s since the retirement of Justice A M Magrey, it said. “Over a long period of time no Judge of Jammu & Kashmir origin has been elevated as Chief Justice of a High Court or as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India,” it said, adding, “In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, consultation was held with consultee-Judge/s on the suitability of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur for appointment as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur. The consultee-Judge/s have concurred with the proposal for the appointment of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur.” Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium said that it was of the considered view Justice Thakur was fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur. “The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend the appointment of Mr Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur.”
Justice Thakur is the brother of former Chief Justice of India TS Thakur.

Press Trust of India