The appointment of Senior Advocate Kardak Ete as an additional judge of the Gauhati High Court has been notified by the Central government on Friday.

The website of Ministry of Law and Justice has published a notification to this effect.

 The notification reads that in exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Kardak Ete, as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court for a period of two years with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

The Supreme Court Collegium on March 2, 2023 had recommended the name of Senior Advocate Ete.

The Collegium, in its resolution had said that the elevation of Ete, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe, will add to the diversity of the Gauhati High Court bench.

The Supreme Court Collegium recommendation read that as per the report of the Intelligence Bureau, it is indicated that he (Advocate Ete) enjoys a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to integrity.

It further added that the candidate belongs to a Scheduled Tribe. Besides his own competence and standing at the Bar, the appointment of Shri Kardak Ete will bring greater diversity and inclusion to the High Court, due to which the collegium resolves to recommend that Shri Kardak Ete, Advocate, be appointed as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court.

The Central government is yet to notify the appointment of judicial officer Mridul Kumar Kalita as a judge of the Gauhati High Court. Kalita was recommended for elevation in January this year

Senior Advocate Kardak Ete has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Gauhati High Court by the Supreme Court Collegium.

The Collegium, comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Justice K M Joseph, recommended the appointment of senior advocate Kardak Ete as a judge of the Gauhati High Court on December 1, 2022.

The recommendation was supported by the chief ministers and governors of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.

“In order to determine the fitness and suitability of Kardak Ete for promotion to the High Court, in line of the Memorandum of Procedure, the Supreme Court judges conversant with the operations of the Gauhati High Court were consulted,” the Supreme Court Collegium stated.

“For the purpose of considering the merit and appropriateness of Kardak Ete for promotion to the High Court, we have reviewed and evaluated the material placed on record. We also reviewed the Department of Justice’s views in the file. According to the Intelligence Bureau report, he has a strong personal and professional reputation, and nothing negative has come to light in terms of honesty.”

“In addition to his personal expertise and status at the Bar, Kardak Ete’s selection will increase the High Court’s diversity and inclusivity,” the collegium added.

Advocate Ete is from Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh and belongs to a Scheduled Tribe.

The Gauhati High Court now has 22 judges, against a sanctioned strength of 24, which includes the chief justice and six additional judges. If the government accepts the proposal to elevate Ete, the high court will have only a single vacancy.

As per the resolution published on the Apex Court website, the Collegium said the elevation of Ete, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe, would add to the diversity on the Gauhati High Court Bench.

It said the report of the Intelligence Bureau indicated that he enjoyed a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse had come to notice with regard to his integrity.

The candidate belong to a Scheduled Tribe. Besides his own competence and standing at the Bar, the appointment of Kardak Ete would bring greater diversity and inclusion to the High Court, it added.

The Collegium resolved to recommend that Kardak Ete, Advocate, be appointed as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court, said the resolution.

It further said the Collegium of the Gauhati High Court comprising the then Chief Justice and two senior most Judges unanimously made the recommendation on December 1, 2022.

The Chief Ministers and Governors of the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland have concurred with the recommendation. In order to ascertain the fitness and suitability of Kardak Ete for elevation to the High Court, in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, the Judges of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the Gauhati High Court were consulted, added the resolution.

The Collegium said the Department of Justice’s observations were also scrutinised.