Supreme Court judge Justice UU Lalit (file photo).

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has written a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana.

He has requested him to recommend the name of his successor.

The letter dated August 3 was received in the office of the Chief Justice late on Wednesday evening.

CJI NV Ramana will soon recommend Justice UU Lalit as his successor.

The Supreme Court Collegium meeting on Wednesday over the appointment of judges took place amid an atmosphere of tension when the Law Ministry delayed writing a letter to CJI Ramana to recommend Justice Lalit's name as the next CJI.

Traditionally, the ministry writes a month before the retirement of the incumbent CJI, who sends recommendations to the ministry 30 days before his retirement.  

CJI Ramana is retiring on 26 August.

Justice Lalit will take oath as the 49th CJI on August 27.

His tenure will be only 74 days.

As CJI, Justice Lalit will head the collegium consisting of Justice Chandrachud, Justice 

Kaul, Justice Nazir and Justice Indira Banerjee.

With Justice Banerjee retiring on September 23, Justice KM Joseph will enter the collegium. 

Justice Lalit will retire as CJI on November 8.

After this, Justice Chandrachud will be appointed as the 50th CJI. 

In the meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium held on Wednesday, once again no consensus could be reached on the appointment of judges.

Now it has been decided that only the new CJI will decide on the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court and in the High Court.

According to sources, no decision regarding future appointments was taken in today's meeting. 

CJI NV Ramana has registered his name in history.

During his tenure, 9 judges took oath simultaneously in the Supreme Court.

For the first time, three women judges took oath together in the Supreme Court.

With this, the country will get a woman CJI for the first time in the form of Justice BV Nagarathna.

About 250 judges were appointed in various High Courts during the tenure of CJI Ramana.