Former CJI Ramesh Chandra Lahoti passes away

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Ramesh Chandra Lahoti who served as the 35th Chief Justice of India, from 1 June 2004 to 1 November 2005, passed away at the age of 81.

• Justice Lahoti also served as an independent director on the Board of directors of the Press Trust of India.

• He was also an arbitrator appointed by the Government of India in the ₹20,000-crore high-profile tax dispute case with telecom major Vodafone.

• While condoling his death, the Prime Minister of India remembered him for his emphasis on ensuring speedy justice to underprivileged

Important for Exam

• The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.

• As per convention, the outgoing CJI recommends his successor – a practice, which is strictly based on seniority. The Union Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the Prime Minister who, in turn, advises the President.

• However this convention has been broken twice. In 1973, Justice A. N. Ray was appointed superseding 3 senior judges. Also, in 1977 Justice Mirza Hameedullah Beg was appointed as the chief justice superseding Justice Hans Raj Khanna

• In accordance with Article 145 of the Constitution of India and the Supreme Court Rules of Procedure of 1966, chief justice is responsible for the allocation of cases and appointment of constitutional benches which deal with important matters of law.

• Retirement Age of Supreme Court judges - 65 Years

• Total Strength of Supreme Court - CJI + 33 Other Judges

• The 48th and present chief justice is N. V. Ramana