Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Appointment: Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal Takes Charge as Acting Chief Justice
The Central Government has appointed Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal to perform the duties of the Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court following the retirement of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha on September 4, 2026. The appointment has been made by the President under Article 223 of the Constitution, which provides for the appointment of an Acting Chief Justice when the office of Chief Justice is vacant.
The official website of the High Court of Chhattisgarh now lists Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal as the Acting Chief Justice, with the new roster taking effect from September 5.
The development comes at a particularly significant moment because Justice Agrawal has already been recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. The Collegium’s recommendation was made on August 31, 2026, along with a recommendation for his transfer from Chhattisgarh to Rajasthan.
The situation therefore involves two separate developments. Justice Agrawal is presently performing the duties of Chief Justice in Chhattisgarh, but the Centre has also cleared his appointment as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. This means his tenure as Acting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh could be temporary, pending the implementation of the Rajasthan appointment.
For the permanent leadership of the Chhattisgarh High Court, the Supreme Court Collegium had separately recommended Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra of the Orissa High Court as the next Chief Justice. The recommendation was made on August 31 and remains part of the judicial appointment process.
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal’s appointment as Acting Chief Justice is consequently best understood as an interim constitutional arrangement, rather than a permanent appointment to the post. The latest position on the High Court’s own website confirms that he is currently functioning as Acting Chief Justice.
The sequence also illustrates the rapid reshuffling of leadership across several High Courts. On September 5, the Union Government notified appointments involving eight High Courts, following recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium.
The immediate focus now shifts to the formal implementation of the Collegium’s recommendation concerning Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra and the transfer and elevation of Justice Agrawal to Rajasthan. Until those changes take effect, Justice Agrawal remains at the helm of the Chhattisgarh High Court in an acting capacity.
