Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: Supreme Court Collegium comprising of Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice B R Gavai has recommended the name of Mohammad Yousuf Wani, Judicial Officer, as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Presently, Wani, a District and Sessions Judge Cadre officer, is Member, J&K Special Tribunal, Srinagar on deputation.
On 21st September 2023, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues recommended the appointment of Mohammad Yousuf Wani as an Additional Judge of High Court.
In order to ascertain the suitability of the candidate for elevation to the High Court, the Supreme Court Collegium consulted Judges of the Supreme Court, who are conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
“For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the candidate for elevation to the High Court, we have scrutinized and evaluated the material placed on record. We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file”, read the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
“Having regard to the material on record and all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mohammad Yousuf Wani is fit and suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the High Court for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh”, the recommendation said.
“We have also taken note of the fact that the proposal involves non-recommendation of a senior Judicial Officer. We have also perused a representation made by the officer requesting for consideration of her name for elevation. We have considered the reasons recorded by the Collegium of the High Court for not recommending her name and are in agreement with the High Court Collegium for overlooking her name”, the recommendation further said.
Accordingly, the Collegium has resolved to recommend that Mohammad Yousuf Wani, Judicial Officer, be appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Mohammad Yousuf Wani joined the judicial service on 9th December 1997 and has served as a Judicial Officer in various capacities.
“Prior to this, he practised at the Bar for over three years. The inputs placed by the Government in the file indicate that he enjoys a good personal and professional image. Nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to his integrity”, the Supreme Court Collegium said, adding “the Annual Confidential Reports of the officer are consistently of a high order. The consultee-judges have concurrently given a positive opinion about his suitability for appointment as a Judge of the High Court”.