Yesterday, the Central government cleared the appointment of judicial officer Mridul Kumar Kalita as additional judge of the Gauhati High Court.

A notification to this effect was published on the website of Ministry of Law & Justice.

"In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Mridul Kumar Kalita, to be an Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court, for a period of two years with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office," the notification read.

The name was recommended earlier in January for elevation by the Supreme Court Collegium.

As on March 1, the Gauhati High Court is functioning with a strength of 22 judges as opposed to the sanctioned strength of 30 with a vacancy of 8.