SC Collegium Recommends Chief Justices for Four High Courts

The Supreme Court Collegium, under the leadership of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, has made significant recommendations for the appointment of Chief Justices in four prominent High Courts across the country. These crucial decisions were taken during a Collegium meeting held on August 6, 2026, with the resolutions officially published on Sunday, August 9, 2026. This move aims to address existing vacancies and ensure full-time leadership in several High Courts, which are vital for the efficient functioning of India's judicial system. The four High Courts set to receive new Chief Justices, pending approval from the Union Government, are the Patna High Court, Calcutta High Court, Bombay High Court, and Punjab and Haryana High Court. Each recommendation carefully considers the experience, seniority, and judicial acumen of the judges proposed for elevation. For the Patna High Court, Justice V. Kameswar Rao, a distinguished judge currently serving at the Delhi High Court, has been recommended for elevation as its Chief Justice. Justice Rao was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in April 2013 and became a Permanent Judge in March 2015, bringing over a decade of experience to his new potential role. The Calcutta High Court is slated to receive Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge as its new Chief Justice. Justice Ghuge is currently serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He was elevated as a judge of the High Court in 2013 and assumed the role of Acting Chief Justice in June 2026, following the elevation of Justice Shree Chandrashekhar to the Supreme Court. Justice Ghuge's extensive experience, including representing workers and trade unions, and later various industrial establishments, highlights his diverse legal background. The recommendation is particularly significant for the Calcutta High Court, which has faced a considerable backlog of cases and a shortage of judges, with 23 posts remaining vacant out of a sanctioned strength of 72 as of July 2026. Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, presently a judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been recommended to take over as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. Justice Tripathi was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in September 2013 and became a Permanent Judge in April 2015. If approved, he would become the 50th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. Finally, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, who is presently serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has been recommended for appointment as the full-time Chief Justice of the same High Court. Justice Mishra's parent High Court is Allahabad, and he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2025. He was elevated as an Additional Judge in February 2014 and made a Permanent Judge in February 2016. In addition to these Chief Justice appointments, the Supreme Court Collegium also recommended the transfer of two other High Court judges. Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak, presently posted at the Orissa High Court, has been recommended for transfer to the Gujarat High Court. Concurrently, Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra of the Orissa High Court has been recommended for transfer to the Chhattisgarh High Court. These transfers, like the Chief Justice appointments, aim to optimize judicial resources and address specific needs within the High Courts. The Collegium's recommendations, once accepted by the Central Government, will officially take effect upon the issuance of necessary notifications. As of early August 2026, seven of India's twenty-five High Courts were functioning without permanent Chief Justices. These new recommendations, if approved, would fill five of these critical vacancies, significantly strengthening the leadership structure within the higher judiciary. The High Courts currently headed by Acting Chief Justices include Bombay, Calcutta, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Patna, Punjab and Haryana, and Rajasthan. The process of judicial appointments and transfers is governed by constitutional provisions, primarily Article 217 for Chief Justice appointments and Article 222 for judicial transfers. The Collegium system, though not explicitly defined in the Constitution, has evolved through judicial pronouncements and plays a pivotal role in these appointments, often prioritizing seniority, merit, and administrative capability. The swiftness of these recommendations underscores the Collegium's ongoing efforts to maintain judicial strength and efficiency across the country. The elevation of these experienced judges to leadership roles is expected to bring stability and accelerate the disposal of pending cases, thereby reinforcing public trust in the judicial system. This series of appointments and transfers reflects the dynamic nature of judicial administration in India and the continuous efforts to ensure that High Courts are adequately staffed with seasoned and capable leadership. The Central Government's approval is the next crucial step in formalizing these significant judicial changes.

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