Supreme Court Collegium Recommends New Chief Justices for Five High Courts and Three Justices to Supreme Court
In a major development on May 26, 2025, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, recommended the appointment of new Chief Justices in five High Courts and the elevation of three judges to the Supreme Court. This move is part of a broader reshuffle and strengthening of judicial leadership across the country.
New Appointments to the Supreme Court
The Collegium has recommended the following for elevation to the Supreme Court:
Justice N V Anjaria (currently Chief Justice, Karnataka High Court; parent High Court: Gujarat)
Justice Vijay Bishnoi (currently Chief Justice, Gauhati High Court; parent High Court: Rajasthan)
Justice A S Chandurkar (currently Judge, Bombay High Court)
These appointments are intended to fill vacancies created by the retirement of former CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Abhay S Oka and Hrishikesh Roy.
New Chief Justices in Five High Courts
The Collegium recommended the following appointments as Chief Justices:
| Judge | Current/Parent High Court | Appointed As Chief Justice Of |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva | Madhya Pradesh (parent: Delhi) | Madhya Pradesh High Court |
| Justice Vibhu Bakhru | Delhi | Karnataka High Court |
| Justice Ashutosh Kumar | Patna | Gauhati High Court |
| Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi | Patna (parent: Gujarat) | Patna High Court |
| Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan | Himachal Pradesh | Jharkhand High Court |
These recommendations address vacancies and anticipated retirements, aiming to ensure continuity and effective leadership in the High Courts.
Additional Reshuffling and Transfers
The Collegium also discussed and proposed the transfer of several Chief Justices and as many as 22 High Court judges across the country, aiming to bring diversity and utilize the experience of senior judges in different jurisdictions.
The appointments and transfers are subject to approval by the President of India.
This is one of the largest exercises in recent years regarding appointments and transfers in the higher judiciary, reflecting the Collegium’s ongoing efforts to maintain judicial strength and leadership in the Supreme Court and High Courts nationwide.
