Almost three months after the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium, the Central Government notified the appointment of Justice Dipankar Dutta, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, as a judge of the Supreme Court.
“In exercise of the power conferred under the Constitution of India, Justice Dipankar Datta has been appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India.I extend my best wishes to him”, tweeted Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.
The Supreme Court collegium led by the then CJI UU Lalit had recommended the elevation of Justice Dutta in the resolution passed on September 26. It is worthwhile to note that the Centre’s notification came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court repeatedly criticising the Government for not acting promptly on the collegium recommendations.
While issuing notice to the Secretary (Justice) in a contempt petition filed over delay in judicial appointments, the Supreme Court on November 10 had recorded the submission made by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, that “even the recommendation made for appointment for the Supreme Court more than five weeks ago is still awaiting appointment”.
“We are really unable to understand or appreciate such delays”, a bench led by Justice SK Kaul had commented then.
With the appointment of Justice Dutta, the Supreme Court will have 28 judges out of the strength of 34 judges. Justice Dutta will have a term till February 8, 2030.
Born in February 1965, Justice Datta is the son of a former Calcutta High Court Judge, late (J) Salil Kumar Datta and brother-in-law of Justice Amitava Roy, former Supreme Court Judge.
He obtained his LL.B. degree from the University of Calcutta in 1989 and was enrolled as an Advocate on November 16, 1989. He worked as a Junior Standing Counsel for the State of West Bengal from May 16, 2002 to January 16, 2004 and as a Counsel for the Union of India since 1998.
He served as a Judge of the Calcutta High Court from June 22, 2006. He was elevated as the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court on April 28, 2020.
As CJ of the Bombay High Court, he has passed several significant judgements, including home vaccination for the bedridden, directing a preliminary enquiry against Anil Deshmukh – Maharashtra Home Minister at the time, and an authoritative pronouncement on illegal constructions.
