Uday U Lalit cleared to be apex court judge

New Delhi: The Supreme Court collegium is understood to have recommended the name of senior advocate Uday U. Lalit to be a judge on its bench. It is learnt that a file containing the recommendation of the collegium headed by Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha for elevation of Mr Lalit has been sent to the Union law and justice ministry.

Sources said the 58-year-old Mr Lalit had earlier given consent to the Supreme Court collegium for the elevation. Mr Lalit’s name has been recommended days after former solicitor general and senior advocate Gopal Subramanium opted out of being considered for the post following a controversy when the new government sent back his name for reconsideration.

If the Centre accepts the recommendation of the collegium, then Mr Lalit would be the second person after R.F. Nariman, ex-solicitor general, to become an apex court  judge from the bar in the last 15 years. Mr Lalit has been appearing as the special prosecutor in the 2G scam trial. The senior lawyer has also appeared in several high-profile cases like the black buck poaching incident and the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.