CJI Bobde recommends Justice NV Ramana as his successor

The recommendation comes after the Centre had last week asked the CJI to recommend his successor.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde on Wednesday wrote a letter to the Law Ministry and recommended Justice NV Ramana as his successor as CJI Bobde is set to retire on April 23. The recommendation comes after the Centre had last week asked the CJI to recommend his successor. A copy of the recommendation was handed over to the Supreme Court Judge Justice Ramana.

Reportedly, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had sent a letter to Justice Bobde and sought his recommendation which is the practice under the Memorandum of Procedure for Appointment of Chief Justice of India. According to the protocol for the appointment of members of the higher judiciary, the senior-most judge after the CJI is entitled to hold this constitutional office. He should also be "considered fit to hold the office".

Once the recommendation is proposed by the CJI, the law minister presents it before the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister further advises the President in the appointment of the CJI. Justice Ramana who is from Andhra Pradesh was appointed as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in June 2000. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court before being appointed to the Supreme Court in February 2014. The next CJI will be the 48th Chief Justice of India who is scheduled to take over on April 24.