2 women among new HC judges

Four Delhi high court judges, including two women, were sworn in on Monday, taking the working strength of the court to 38. The four judges — Justices Rekha Palli, Prathiba Singh, Navin Chawla and C. Hari Shankar — were administered oath by the high court’s acting chief justice Gita Mittal.

The four were appointed as judges by the President after their names were approved by the government. They would now add to the strength of the high court, which has been working with a little over half of its sanctioned number of judges.

A notification issued on May 11, by the ministry of law and justice, said: “Exercising the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 217 of the Indian Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Rekha Palli, Prathiba M. Singh, Navin Chawla, and C. Hari Shankar as judges of the Delhi high court, in that order of seniority, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices.”

With the elevation of Justices Rekha Palli and Prathiba Singh, there will be 10 women judges in the high court. The fresh appointments would also increase the working strength of judges to 38 as against the sanctioned strength of 60.

As per the new roster, Justice C Hari Shankar will sit with acting chief justice Gita Mittal, Justice Navin Chawla with Justice Ravindra Bhat, Justice Prathiba Singh with Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice Rekha Palli with Justice G.S. Sistani.