Advocates Ajay Digpaul and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar Appointed as Judges of Delhi High Court
Safiya Malik
The Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, has notified the appointment of two advocates, Ajay Digpaul and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, as judges of the Delhi High Court. The appointments were made on Monday following the approval of the President of India, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, under the powers conferred by the Constitution.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal shared the announcement on the social media platform X, stating, "In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint the following as Judges. I convey my best wishes to them."
The appointments stem from an August 2024 resolution of the Supreme Court Collegium, which had recommended three advocates for elevation to the Delhi High Court bench. Of these, the Central Government has approved the appointments of Ajay Digpaul and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar.
The Collegium highlighted Advocate Ajay Digpaul’s extensive legal career spanning 31 years, covering diverse areas such as civil, criminal, constitutional, labour, company, service, and commercial law. His contributions to 42 reported judgments in the High Court demonstrate his depth of experience. The consultee-judge provided a positive opinion on his suitability, and the Department of Justice confirmed his professional competence and integrity. Considering these factors, the Collegium concluded that Ajay Digpaul is fit and suitable for appointment as a Judge of the Delhi High Court.
Similarly, the Collegium noted Advocate Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar’s impressive legal track record, with appearances in 180 reported judgments and expertise in various branches of law. The consultee-judge’s positive assessment, coupled with inputs from the Department of Justice affirming his competence and spotless integrity, further supported his nomination.
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