Supreme Court Collegium Recommends New Appointments for Chief Justices of Several High Courts

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended new appointments for the position of Chief Justices in various High Courts across India, revising its earlier recommendations dated July 11, 2024. The revised recommendations were made after careful consideration of various factors, including seniority, representation, and diversity.

1. Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi: The Collegium reaffirms its earlier decision to appoint Justice Manmohan, the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, as the Chief Justice of the same court.
2. Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh: Justice Rajiv Shakdher, currently the second seniormost puisne Judge of the Delhi High Court, has been proposed for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. This appointment is necessitated by the proposed transfer of Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao to the Jharkhand High Court.
3. Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: The Collegium has revised its earlier recommendation, now proposing Justice Tashi Rabstan, the seniormost puisne Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, for this position. Justice Rabstan, who hails from Ladakh, will become the first Chief Justice from the region, bringing much-needed representation and diversity. He is due to retire on April 9, 2025.
4. Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh: With Justice Tashi Rabstan now proposed for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Collegium has recommended Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, the senior puisne Judge of the Delhi High Court, for the position of Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Justice Kait, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste category, will take over as the Chief Justice before his retirement on May 23, 2025.
5. Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala: The earlier recommendation to appoint Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar, the seniormost puisne Judge of the Bombay High Court, as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court remains unchanged.
6. Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras: Similarly, Justice K.R. Shriram, the second seniormost puisne Judge of the Bombay High Court, will continue to be the recommended choice for the position of Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
7. Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya: The Collegium, upon reconsideration, has recommended Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji, the seniormost puisne Judge of the Calcutta High Court, for the role of Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court. Justice Mukerji is scheduled to retire on September 5, 2025. This decision was made after acknowledging the current representation of the Calcutta High Court in both the Supreme Court and among the Chief Justices of High Courts.
8. Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh (Future Recommendation): The Collegium has also recommended that Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, the seniormost puisne Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, succeeding Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who will retire on October 18, 2024.

These revised recommendations reflect the Supreme Court Collegium’s ongoing efforts to ensure equitable representation, uphold the principle of seniority, and promote diversity within the judiciary. The appointments are now pending approval from the government.

This resolution, dated September 17, 2024, was signed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, and Justice B.R. Gavai.

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