Justice UU Lalit to be next CJI: Centre notifies appointment | India News

NEW DELHI: The law ministry on Wednesday notified appointment of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit as the next Chief Justice of India, succeeding CJI N V Ramana who demits office on August 26 after a 16-month tenure as the head of the country’s highest court.
Justice Lalit was elevated directly from the Bar as the judge of the Supreme Court in August 2014 and will be the second such judge in the history of the apex court to be appointed as the CJI. However, he will have a very brief period of three months as the CJI since he retires on November 8 when he turns 65.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 27 August, 2022,” the government notification read.
Justice Lalit is the senior-most judge of the SC after the incumbent CJI N V Ramana, and, as per the convention, the senior-most judge of the apex court is appointed as the CJI.
Justice Lalit, when he demits office in November, will be succeeded by Justice DY Chandrachudif the practice is followed.
Soon after the government issued notification for Justice Lalit, a statement issued from the apex court said: “CJI N V Ramana today congratulated Justice U U Lalit on being appointed as the 49th CJI. ”