Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra will endorse Justice Ranjan Gogoi, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor and the 46th Chief Justice of India, sources said.
“A 100 per cent, the Chief Justice will recommend Justice Gogoi as his successor,” Supreme Court Bar Association president and senior advocate Vikas Singh said over the phone on Saturday.
Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra said the BCI had sent a letter to Chief Justice Misra a month ago, urging him to recommend Justice Gogoi as the next Chief Justice of India.
”Convention will be followed. There is no room for doubt. Justice Gogoi will be recommended,” Mr. Mishra said.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Law and Justice said they had not received any official communication from Chief Justice Misra yet.
“There is, however, clarity that tradition will be followed in the appointment, and it will be based on the CJI’s recommendation,” said a senior official in the ministry.
A highly-placed source in the Supreme Court had, as early as in July, indicated that “tradition will be followed” in the court.
Chief Justice Misra is retiring on October 2. Convention demands the recommendation letter from the incumbent be sent at least a month before his date of retirement. Convention also requires the senior most judge of the Supreme Court be appointed Chief Justice of India.
The recommendation letter of the incumbent is the first step in the process of appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
