Srinagar, Mar 12, KDC: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the name of Mohammad Yousuf Wani,Judicial Officer, as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, in the following terms:
On 21 September 2023, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues recommended the appointment of Shri Mohammad Yousuf Wani as an Additional Judge of that High Court.
In order to ascertain the suitability of the candidate for elevation to the High Court, we have consulted Judges of the Supreme Court who are conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the candidate for elevation to the High Court, we have scrutinized and evaluated the material placed on record. We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file.
Shri Mohammad Yousuf Wani joined the judicial service on 9 December 1997 and has served as a judicial officer in various capacities. Prior to this, he practised at the Bar for over three years. The inputs placed by the Government in the file indicate that he enjoys a good personal and professional image. Nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to his integrity. The Annual Confidential Reports of the officer are consistently of a high order. The consultee-judges have concurrently given a positive opinion about his suitability for appointment as a Judge of the High Court.
Having regard to the material on record and all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Shri Mohammad Yousuf Wani is fit and suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the High Court for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
While considering the above proposal, we have also taken note of the fact that the above proposal involves non-recommendation of a senior judicial officer. We have also perused a representation made by the said officer requesting for consideration of her name for elevation. We have considered the reasons recorded by the Collegium of the High Court for not recommending her name and are in agreement with the High Court Collegium for overlooking her name.
In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend that Shri Mohammad Yousuf Wani, Judicial Officer, be appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. (KDC)
