New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium yesterday recommended Justice Ajjikuttira S. Bopanna of the Gauhati High Court and Justice Aniruddha Bose of the Jharkhand High Court for elevation to the Supreme Court.

“While recommending the names of Justices Aniruddha Bose and A.S. Bopanna, the Collegium has taken into consideration, apart from their merit and integrity, combined seniority on all-India basis of Chief Justices and Senior Puisne Judges of High Courts. The Collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the High Courts,” the Collegium stated.

Once the Central Government approves Collegium’s recommendation, Justice Bopanna and Justice Aniruddha Bose will be appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court.

Justice A.S. Bopanna was appointed as a Judge of the Karnataka High Court on Jan. 6, 2006 and was elevated as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court on Oct. 29, 2018. Justice Bopanna stands at Sl. No.36 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis. He is probably the first Judge from Kodava community to be a Supreme Court Judge.

Justice Bopanna was born in 1959 and enrolled as an advocate on Nov. 21, 1984, practised in civil, constitutional, company and service matters in the High Court as well as the civil and labour courts. He also worked as a Legal Advisor to Central Public Sector Undertakings, and worked as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel from 1999 to 2005.

Justice Bopanna was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on Jan. 6, 2006, and became a permanent Judge on Jan. 3, 2007. He is the son of late Ajjikuttira N. Somaiah of Pollibetta, Kodagu.