H.L. Dattu to be next Chief Justice of India

President Pranab Mukherjee has cleared the appointment of Justice H.L. Dattu, the senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, as the 42nd Chief Justice of India.

Speaking to The Hindu, Justice Dattu said, “I am here because of the blessings of Lord Balaji of Tirupati, the blessings of my parents and former Chief Justice of India S. Rajendra Babu. I have a great responsibility to shoulder and I will do my best. I don’t want to claim that I will do this or that.”

Justice Dattu could become the last Chief Justice of India to be appointed under the collegium system of judicial appointments.

If the States ratify the National Judicial Appointments Commission, a constitutional body, the collegium system will come to an end and the executive will get an equal role in appointments to the highest judiciary.

Justice Dattu will become the Chief Justice of India after the retirement of CJI R.M. Lodha on September 27, 2014. He will hold the post for a little over a year until his retirement on December 2, 2015.

(With additional reporting by Krishnadas Rajagopal)