Justice Vaidyanathan appointed as Acting CJ of Madras HC

CHENNAI: Following the retirement of acting Chief Justice T Raja, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday appointed Justice S Vaidyanathan as the acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court with effect from May 25. The new ACJ would assume office on Thursday.

Though the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Justice S Muralidhar to be made the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, the Centre sat on the file without issuing the notification. Later, taking note of the situation where Justice Raja has been in charge since September last, the Collegium in April recommended the acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Justice Sanjay V Gangapurwala, be made the CJ.

However, that too is pending with the Centre, necessitating the appointment of another acting CJ after Justice Raja retired on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, addressing the gathering at the farewell ceremony, Justice Raja advised young lawyers to improve their skills with the English language to have successful practice in the High Court and Supreme Court. “They (young lawyers) should listen to the arguments in the court and learn,” he added.

“Born as the son of a farmer in a village which is 20 km away from Madurai, serving as a judge and acting Chief Justice has fulfilled my life and I am the happiest man,” said Justice Raja.

Incidentally, Justice Raja is the first Tamil judge to complete 100 days in office as the CJ of Madras High Court in the last 25 years. Before him, Justice S Mohan (who retired from Supreme Court in 1995) was the last judge from Tamil Nadu to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court. But he held the post for only six days between October 19 and 24 in 1989.

In the send-off ceremony held at the High Court campus, judges, Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram, BCTNP chairman Amalraj, advocates and court staff were also present.