The Union of India has approved the elevation of Justice Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury, Additional Judge at the Calcutta High Court, as a permanent judge of the same Court.
A notification published by the Union Law Ministry’s Department of Justice on Friday said that in exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President was pleased to appoint Justice Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury, Additional Judge of Calcutta High Court, to be a Judge of that High Court with effect from the date he assumed charge of his office.
On April 5, the Calcutta High Court Collegium had unanimously recommended the appointment of Justice Chowdhury as permanent judge. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor CV Ananda Bose had also concurred with the recommendation. The proposal was then sent to the Supreme Court Collegium.
On October 31, the Supreme Court Collegium proposed the elevation of Justice Chowdhury as permanent judge of the Calcutta High Court.
The Calcutta High Court, as on November 1, is functioning with 52 judges. The High Court has a sanctioned strength of 72 Judges (54 Permanent Judges and 18 Additional Judges), including its permanent Circuit Benches in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in Jalpaiguri, the headquarters of the Jalpaiguri division of West Bengal.
Justice Chowdhury will demit office on December 27 on attaining the age of 62.