Two senior lawyers may be appointed as SC judges

Supreme Court senior advocates — Gopal Subramanium and RF Nariman — are among the four names recommended for appointment as judges of the top court by the collegium headed by Chief Justice of India RM Lodha. Also on the list are Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chief Justices of Kolkata and Odisha high courts respectively.

The recommendation comes in the wake of the recent retirement of four judges, including former Chief Justice P Sathasivam. There are at present

I AM HAPPY WITH THE COLLEGIUM’S DECISION. AFTER 30 YEARS OF MY PRACTICE I WILL NOW GET A CHANCE TO SERVE MY COUNTRY.

RF NARIMAN, senior SC lawyer

27 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 31. It’s not clear whether the recommendation would be approved by the present UPA government or will be left to the new one.

“I am happy with the collegium’s decision. After 30 years of my practice I will now get a chance to serve this country,” RF Nariman, 58, told HT. While Nariman, son of eminent jurist and constitutional expert Fali S Nariman, was designated as senior at the age of 37, Gopal Subramanium, 56, was the lead counsel in 26/11 Mumbai attack case that led to Kasab’s execution and also led CBI in the 1993 Mumbai riots case.

Both lawyers, who are rated amongst the top five lawyers in the country, held the Solicitor General’s post during the UPA regime and quit after differences emerged with the respective law minister.