Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh got its first High Court judge after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Kardak Ete as a judge of the Gauhati High Court.

The SC Collegium headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud recently recommended the appointment of Justice Kardak Ete as a judge of the Gauhati High Court.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

Justice Nani Tagia is the first High Court Judge from the State of Arunachal Pradesh and he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 19 November , 2018 and subsequently became permanent Judge on 10 November 2020.

Justice Kardak Ete was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 13 March, 2023.

Ete hails from Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh and he belongs to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

The Collegium, which includes Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph, unanimously made the recommendation on December 1, 2022.

The chief ministers and governors of the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland have concurred with the recommendation, it noted.

The Supreme Court Collegium noted, “In order to ascertain the fitness and suitability of Kardak Ete for elevation to the High Court, in terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, the judges of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the Gauhati High Court were consulted.

“For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of Kardak Ete for elevation to the High Court, we have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record. We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file…

“The report of the Intelligence Bureau indicates that he enjoys a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to integrity. The candidate belongs to a Scheduled Tribe.

“Besides his own competence and standing at the Bar, the appointment of Kardak Ete will bring greater diversity and inclusion to the High Court. The Collegium, therefore, resolves to recommend that Kardak Ete, Advocate, be appointed as a judge of the Gauhati High Court,” the resolution stated.

(The story has been updated on August 24, 2023)