NEW DELHI: Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday wrote to CJI Dipak Misra , who is 34 days from retirement, and sought his recommendation for appointment of the next CJI to commence the traditional process for succession, which requires the incumbent CJI to recommend the seniormost SC judge as his successor.

Law ministry sources confirmed that Prasad has written to the CJI seeking his recommendation.

Justice Gogoi likely to be recommended for CJI

However, SC sources said they were yet to receive the letter. Given that CJI Misra, who has delivered landmark judgments and will deliver some crucial verdicts before he retires, including one on validity of Aadhaar, is a stickler for tradition, it is a matter of time that he recommends appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi , who is the seniormost SC judge, as his successor.

When the process, a mere technicality, gets completed and Justice Gogoi’s name is recommended, he would succeed Justice Misra as CJI on October 3 and become the first from Assam to occupy the highest post in the judiciary.

A source close to CJI Misra said, “Though the CJI was hurt by Justice Gogoi’s participation in the unprecedented January 12 press conference by four SC judges led by Justice J Chelameswar, he will not let any harm come to the tradition of the seniormost judge becoming the CJI after his retirement.

The recommendation in favour of Justice Gogoi for appointment as CJI on October 3 will follow in due course.”

