Centre Notifies Appointment Of AOR Sibo Sankar Mishra & Judicial Officer Ananda Chandra Behera As Orissa HC Judges

The Centre on Saturday notified the appointment of Sibo Sankar Mishra, Advocate-on-Record and Ananda Chandra Behera, Senior Judicial Officer as Judges of Orissa High Court. 

The Collegium of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sanjiv Khanna had recommended their names for such appointment on August 17, 2023.

While recommending the name of AOR Mishra, the Collegium had observed, 

"He has a sizeable practice at the Bar which is reflected in his average professional income. The inputs received from the Government indicate that he has a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to his integrity."  

While recommending the name of Ananda Chandra Behera, a Judicial Officer in the rank of District Judge, the apex judicial appointment body gave due consideration to the fact that he is currently the 14th senior-most Judicial Officer of the State and recommending his name will result in overlooking the candidature of 13 officers senior to him. 

"We have also taken note of the fact that the proposal for elevation of Shri Ananda Chandra Behera, involves non-recommendation of senior judicial officers. We have duly taken note of the reasons recorded in the minutes of the Collegium of the High Court for not recommending their names. We are in agreement with the views," stated the Collegium statement.

Currently, the High Court has 20 Judges against the sanctioned strength of 33. With their appointment, the strength is slated to go up to 22. However, it will come down to 20 again upon the retirements of Justice Biswanath Rath on September 6, 2023 and Chief Justice Subhasis Talapatra on October 3, 2023.

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