Context: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Lisa Gill as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. The decision was taken by the collegium at a meeting held on February 26.
- “The Collegium has resolved to recommend transfer of Ms. Justice Lisa Gill, Judge, High Court of Punjab and Haryana to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and for her appointment as the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from the date the vacancy would arise,” the resolution said.
- Pertinently, her initial appointment at the Andhra Pradesh High Court will be as a puisne judge and she will take over as its Chief Justice roughly after two months, on April 25, when the incumbent Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur demits office.
- This early transfer of Justice Gill is in line with the new policy the Collegium has announced.
- The Collegium has taken a policy decision that in order to strengthen the efficiency and quality of administration of justice, a Judge who is proposed to take over the High Court as its Chief Justice may be transferred well in advance, preferably two months before the vacancy arises, so that such recommendee in the meantime becomes well conversant with the affairs of that High Court and assumes charge of the office of Chief Justice, on the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice. Following this policy decision, the Collegium has resolved to recommend transfer of Ms. Justice Lisa Gill, Judge, High Court of Punjab and Haryana to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and for her appointment as the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from the date the vacancy would arise.
- Justice Gill is an alumni of the Department of Laws, Panjab University having pursued B.A. LL.B. (three years) and LL.M. from there.
- She enrolled as an advocate in the year 1990 and practiced at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. She dealt with cases of various kinds including criminal, civil, service, revenue and constitutional matters.
- She represented Union Territory of Chandigarh for a number of years as well as some of the Boards and Corporations.
- She was appointed as a judge of the the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 31, 2014.