President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday appointed the acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court Rajesh Kumar Agrawal (60) as the regular Chief Justice of the court. Justice Agrawal became a permanent judge of the Allahabad High Court and was transferred to Madras High Court in February this year.
The President has also appointed seven of the eight names recommended by the Supreme Court collegium of judges headed by the Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam as Judges of the Madras High Court.
The seven names are: R. Mahadevan, K. Kalyanasundaram, P.N. Prakash, S. Vaidyanathan and a woman lawyer Pushpa Sathyanarayana and two service candidates V. Ravi and G. Chockalingam. With their appointment the strength of judges in the High Court goes up to 48 as against the sanctioned strength of 60.
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The name of the eighth woman candidate G.M. Velumani from the Bar has not been cleared. Sources said her name would be sent back to the Supreme Court collegium for fresh consideration. The PMO is understood to have sought certain clarifications in respect of Ms. Velumani.