Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said that the process for appointing the next Chief Justice of India is underway. Rijiju had received a letter from the CJI NV Ramana nominating his next possible successor for the post.
“I have received a letter from the CJI nominating his next possible successor. We are following a process. In due course, we will act. Formalities are underway. I hope that everything will go smoothly,” Rijiju said.
Earlier on Thursday, the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, NV Ramana, recommended Justice UU Lalit’s name.
‘The Secretariat of the Chief Justice of India has received a communication on 3 August 2022, from the Minister of Law and Justice requesting the CJI to recommend the name of his successor,” apex court shared the information.
However, it has been a tradition that the CJI sends the name of his successor to the Law Minister before retirement. The Chief justice of India NV Ramana will be retiring on 26 August and on 27 August Lalit will swear in. Meanwhile, he would have a short tenure of 74 days.
Notably, on 8 November Justice Lalit will retire, and as the 50th Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud will be appointed.