The TLA network has learned that in an unprecedented move, Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit has initiated a proposal for the appointment of four new judges in the Supreme Court by seeking the written consent of his fellow judges in the collegium.

The names which have been recommended by CJI to the other four members of the collegium are Punjab & Haryana high court chief justice Ravi Shankar Jha, Patna high court chief justice Sanjay Karol, Manipur High Court Chief Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, and Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan.

The Practice before the Supreme Court collegium continuing is that the collegium members (the first five judges of the Supreme Court) sign the resolutions in person after agreeing on the names that are to be recommended to the Union government for appointment as judges but the collegium meeting scheduled to take place on 30th September 2022 could happen since one of the members was not available and thereafter, the Supreme Court had its Dussehra Vacation. 

The other four judges of the collegium are justices Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, SA Nazeer, and KM Joseph. It is learned that out of these four members, two have given their consent whereas the other two members have asked for some more time to give their consent.

CJI Lalit is set to retire on 08.11.2022 and according to practice, the incumbent CJI has to propose the name for the next CJI a month before his retirement to the Union Government. If that is so, CJI Lalit has to propose his successor by 09.10.2022 and the Dussehra vacation of the Supreme Court is coming to an end on 09.10.2022 and if the present CJI recommends the name of his successor CJI, Justice Lalit becomes functus officio.