Justice Vibhu Bakhru Takes on Role as Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court
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New Delhi, Dec 3 (NationPress) The Centre has issued a notification designating Justice Vibhu Bakhru as the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, just after the elevation of the current Chief Justice Manmohan to the Supreme Court was finalized.
"In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Vibhu Bakhru, Judge of the Delhi High Court, to perform the duties of office of the Chief Justice of that High Court, effective from the date Shri Justice Manmohan, Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, relinquishes charge of his office due to his elevation as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India," stated a notification from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.
Article 223 of the Constitution allows the President to appoint any puisne judge as acting Chief Justice when "the office of Chief Justice of a High Court is vacant or when any such Chief Justice is, due to absence or other reasons, unable to perform the duties of his office".
Born in Nagpur in 1966, Justice Bakhru received his education in Delhi, enrolled with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, and began his articles with Thakur Vadiyanathaiyan & Company in 1985. He holds a B.Com (Hon) degree from Delhi University and passed his final Chartered Accountancy exam in 1989. He earned his LLB degree in 1990 and became an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi that same year. Having practiced in the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court, the Company Law Board, and various other Tribunals, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court on April 17, 2013, and became a Permanent Judge on March 18, 2015.
Earlier that day, the Centre disclosed the appointment of Justice Manmohan to the apex court.
In a statement on X, Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal mentioned that the President, following consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), was pleased to appoint Justice Manmohan, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, as an SC judge.
Last week, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Manmohan's name for elevation to the apex court. "While recommending his name, the Collegium considered the fact that the Supreme Court Bench is currently represented by only one Judge from the Delhi High Court," the SC Collegium statement read.
Justice Manmohan has been serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court since March 2008 and has held the position of Chief Justice since September 29. He ranks second in the combined all-India seniority of High Court Judges and is the most senior Judge in the Delhi High Court.
