Has the Centre Approved Justice K. Somashekar as Chief Justice of Manipur HC?

New Delhi, May 20 (NationPress) In a prompt response to the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation, the Centre has formally approved the appointment of Justice Kempaiah Somashekar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, following the retirement of the current Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar on May 21.

According to a notification from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, "In exercise of the power granted by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, Judge of the Karnataka High Court, to serve as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court effective from the date he takes charge of his office."

Last week, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, recommended the appointment of Justice Somashekar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur HC.

"The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on May 15, 2025, has recommended the elevation of Mr. Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, Judge of the Karnataka High Court, to the position of Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur, following the retirement of Mr. Justice D. Krishnakumar on May 21, 2025," stated a release on the apex court's website.

Born on September 15, 1963, Justice Somashekar was appointed as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court in November 2016 and became a permanent Judge of the Karnataka HC in November 2018.

He was appointed directly as a District and Sessions Judge on June 17, 1998, and has held various positions including Additional District and Sessions Judge at Bijapur (Vijayapura), Bangalore City Civil Court, and Principal District and Sessions Judge at locations such as Uttara Kannada, Karwar District, Hassan, Bangalore Rural District, and Chitradurga. Justice Somashekar has also served as Registrar Judicial and Registrar Vigilance of the Karnataka High Court.

Prior to his judicial career, Justice Somashekar practiced law in Mysore and Chamarajanagar, covering both civil and criminal cases.

As per the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) that governs the appointment of High Court Judges, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) initiates the proposal for the appointment of a Chief Justice of a High Court. The CJI sends recommendations for appointing a puisne Judge of the High Court as Chief Justice either of that High Court or another, in consultation with the two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court, known as the Collegium.

Following the SC Collegium's recommendation, the Union Minister of Law and Justice seeks the opinions of the concerned state government. After receiving these views, the Union Minister submits proposals to the Prime Minister, who then advises the President regarding the selection. Once the President approves the appointment, the Department of Justice announces it and publishes a notification in the Gazette of India.