Chief Justice of India S A Bobde has recommended the name of the second senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, Justice N V Ramana as his successor.
Justice Bobde, who demits office on April 23, apparently closed in-house inquiry against Justice Ramana on a complaint filed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
After a formal approval of the recommendation by the Union government, Justice Ramana would become the 48th Chief Justice of India on April 24 with the superannuation of Justice Bobde.
Justice Bobde followed the Memorandum of Procedure in recommending the name of the second senior-most judge, Justice Ramana as the next CJI. According to norms, communication is sent by the outgoing CJI, recommending the name of his successor.
On Wednesday, the CJI handed over a copy of the recommendation letter to Justice Ramana. A statement was also issued by the Supreme Court saying, "A complaint by the Andhra Pradesh CM was dealt with under the In-House Procedure and the same, on due consideration, stands dismissed".
Justice Ramana, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, was elevated to the Supreme Court on February 17, 2014.
He would retire on August 26, 2022.
He was appointed as judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2000. He has also been acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. He has also been Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
In October 2020, a huge controversy erupted as the Andhra Pradesh CM wrote to the CJI alleging that the state High Court was being used to "destabilise and topple his democratically-elected government". The letter accused Justice Ramana of trying to control the High Court and influence cases affecting the state.