The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, has recommended four senior judges for elevation to the posts of Chief Justices of four High Courts. These recommendations were made during a meeting held on August 6, 2026, and confirmed through a resolution published on August 9, 2026. The proposed appointments aim to fill long-standing vacancies in the High Courts of Patna, Calcutta, Bombay, and Punjab and Haryana, which have been operating under acting chief justices for extended periods. Justice V. Kameswar Rao, currently serving as a judge in the Delhi High Court, has been recommended for the role of Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. Rao was appointed as an Additional Judge in the Delhi High Court in April 2013 and became a Permanent Judge in March 2015. In 2024, he was transferred to the Karnataka High Court and returned to the Delhi High Court in July 2025. His experience spans multiple jurisdictions and includes service in both metropolitan and regional courts. For the Calcutta High Court, Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, who is currently acting as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, has been proposed for elevation. Ghuge was elevated as a judge of the Bombay High Court in 2013 and has served in that capacity since. His tenure as acting chief justice began after the appointment of Justice Shree Chandrashekhar to the Supreme Court. Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, a judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been recommended for the post of Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. Tripathi was elevated as an Additional Judge in September 2013 and became a Permanent Judge in April 2015. His career has focused primarily on civil and constitutional law, with notable contributions in judicial reforms and legal education. Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, who is based at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has been proposed for the Chief Justiceship of that court. Mishra took the oath as an Additional Judge in February 2014 and was made a Permanent Judge in February 2016. He was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2025, bringing his extensive experience in administrative and procedural law to bear on the bench. In addition to these four appointments, the Collegium has reportedly considered recommending another judge for the Rajasthan High Court. Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who has been acting as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court since September 28, 2025, has been suggested for a full-time appointment. However, there has been no official confirmation of this recommendation yet. The current situation in several High Courts has highlighted the urgency of these appointments. As of August 1, 2026, the Bombay High Court has been under the acting chief justiceship of Justice Ghuge since June 2, 2026. Similarly, the Calcutta High Court has been managed by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty since June 21, 2026. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has been under Justice Mishra’s interim leadership since June 2, 2026, and the Rajasthan High Court has been guided by Justice Sharma since September 28, 2025. Meanwhile, the Patna High Court has also been functioning under an acting chief justice. These recommendations come amid broader structural changes within the higher judiciary. The Supreme Court itself faces challenges due to three existing vacancies, with two more anticipated later in the year. Justice Sanjay Karol is set to retire on August 22, 2026, having joined the Supreme Court on February 6, 2023. Justice Satish Chandra Sharma will retire on November 29, 2026, following his elevation to the apex court on November 9, 2023. The proposed appointments are expected to provide stability to five High Courts, though the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remain without permanent chief justices. The Union government is likely to receive the signed recommendations soon, paving the way for formal appointments. This process underscores the importance of timely judicial appointments in maintaining the efficiency and integrity of the Indian legal system.
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