Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya appointed Chief Justice of Bombay HC

“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of Constitution of India, the President of India Droupadi Murmu is pleased to appoint Justice Upadhyaya, Judge of Allahabad High Court, to be Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office,” the Centre’s notification reads. Justice Thakur is also appointed head of Andhra Pradesh HC from the date he assumes charge of the office.

The Centre also issued a notification for elevation of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur of Bombay HC as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh HC. The SC Collegium had recommended Justice Thakur’s elevation on July 6. Justice Thakur was transferred from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh HC to Bombay HC in June, last year. The Centre cleared the elevation of Justice Thakur on Monday.

Justice Upadhyaya was appointed as judge of Allahabad HC on November 21, 2011. Born on June 16, 1965, Justice Upadhyaya graduated in law from Lucknow University in 1991, and enrolled as an advocate on May 11, 1991. He practised in civil and constitutional sides at Allahabad High court, Lucknow Bench. He was elevated as its additional judge on November 21, 2011 and made permanent judge on August 6, 2013.

The Collegium, while stating that Justice Upadhyaya was fit and suitable for elevation, had said that on appointment of Justice Upadhyaya, Allahabad High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, which is the largest High Court, with a total judges strength of 160, would get adequate representation among Chief Justices of high courts in the country.

At present, the HC functions with 66 judges, 40 permanent judges, and 26 additional judges. However, the sanctioned strength of the court, which is the second largest in the country after Allahabad High Court, stands at 94.