Setting the ball rolling for the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India, current incumbent JS Khehar has named Justice Dipak Misra as his successor, a senior functionary aware of the development said.

Justice Khehar retires on 27 August. As is procedure, the law minister wrote to Khehar, seeking his recommendation on his successor. In response, the CJI recommended the name of Misra, who will retire on 2 October 2018.

The memorandum of procedure, a document which guides the appointment, transfer and elevation of judges of the Supreme Court and the 24 high courts, states that appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office.

Justice Mishra, 63, is the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after Justice Khehar.