The Union government has appointed Justice S.V. Bhatti as Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.
This information was given by Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Friday by way of a tweet.
In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, the President of India has appointed Justice SV Bhatti as Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court with effect from April 24, 2023, the Union Minister tweeted.
Justice Bhatti will take charge from Justice S. Manikumar, present Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, who is set to retire on April 24.
The recommendation was made by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud earlier this month.
Justice Bhatti is the senior-most Judge from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, who is presently serving as the senior-most judge of the High Court of Kerala, on transfer.
The Collegium had observed that the experience of Justice Bhatti as a senior puisne Judge in two High Courts would prove useful in dispensation of justice as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala.
It further noted that no judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court was currently serving as the Chief Justice. Justice S.V. Bhatti was fit and suitable in all respects to be appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala, added the Collegium.
Justice Bhatti was born on May 6, 1962 at Madanapalle in Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh to Ramakrishnaiah and Annapurnamma. He finished his schooling from Giri Rao Theosophical High School, Madanapalle and did his graduation in Commerce from Besant Theosophical College, Madanapalle.
He obtained the Bachelor’s degree in law from Jagadguru Renukacharya College, Bengaluru and enrolled on with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on January 21, 1987.
While practicing in the High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad, Justice Bhatti served as a Standing Counsel for Hindustan Shipyard, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Indian Maritime University, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Electronics, BHPV and RSVP. He also served as the Special Government Pleader during 2000–2003.
Justice Bhatti was elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on April 12, 2013, and served as judge of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for the State of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh until bifurcation and establishment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi on June 1, 2014.
After the establishment of the High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi on January 1, 2019, he was sworn-in as a Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, where he served till March 18, 2019.
Upon transfer, Justice Bhatti served as permanent judge of the Kerala High Court and Chairman of the Kerala High Court Legal Services Committee from March 19, 2019.