President of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind appointed the senior most judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana after Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde as the new Chief Justice of India on April, 24. He is the 48th Chief Justice of India and will hold office until August 26,2022.
Before being elected as the Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice N.V. Ramana was the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.
HOW IS THE CHIEF JUSITCE APPOINTED?
The President of India under Article-124 Clause 2 of the Constitution of India appoints the Chief Justice in consultation with such judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court as he deems necessary.
WHO IS QUALIFIED TO BE A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT?
Can any judge from the lower judiciary be appointed as the judge of the Supreme Court? Or is there any exam for that? Neither of the two!!!
A person so as to be appointed as the Judge of the Apex court, needs to have the following qualifications:-
- He should be a citizen of India,
- He should have been a judge of a High Court( or High Courts in succession) for five years; or
- He should have been an advocate of a High Court ( or High Courts in succession ) for ten years; or
- He should be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President.
It must be noted here that in case of Chief Justice of India, the practice is to appoint the senior most judge of the Supreme Court as the Chief Justice.
WHAT’S THE TENURE?
The Judge of Supreme Court can hold office until the age of 65. Whereas, the CJI is appointed for a term of 16 months.
So, Justice Ramana has taken over the charge as CJI at a time when the third pillar of our country, that is the judiciary is adjusting itself to function in a virtual mode along with ensuring that the citizens get an uninterrupted access to justice. Now, here lies the major challenge, will the new CJI make the virtual working of the Federal Court a new normal?