The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of four sitting Chief Justices of High Courts and Senior Advocate V. Mohana as judges of the Supreme Court, in a significant move aimed at filling vacancies in the apex court. The recommendations were made during the Collegium meetings held on May 22 and May 27, 2026.
According to the statement issued by the Collegium, the names recommended for appointment as judges of the Supreme Court are
1.Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court;
2.Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court;
3.Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court;
4.Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh; and
5.Senior Advocate V. Mohana.
The recommendations assume significance in light of the recent Ordinance issued by the President of India enhancing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 33 to 37 judges, apart from the Chief Justice of India. The move was aimed at addressing mounting pendency and ensuring faster disposal of cases in the apex court.
If approved by the Union Government and notified by the President, the recommended appointees would substantially fill the newly created vacancies and strengthen the court’s adjudicatory capacity.
Justice Sheel Nagu is presently serving as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and belongs to the Madhya Pradesh High Court as his parent High Court.
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, whose parent High Court is the Jharkhand High Court, is currently the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva is serving as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and originally belongs to the Delhi High Court.
Justice Arun Palli, presently heading the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, traces his parent High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Collegium has also recommended the elevation of Senior Advocate V. Mohana from the Supreme Court Bar.
The recommendations are expected to be forwarded to the Union Government for approval and issuance of warrants of appointment by the President of India. Once notified, the appointments would strengthen the working strength of the Supreme Court, which has been functioning with vacancies.
The elevation of a Senior Advocate directly from the Bar is also notable, as such appointments are relatively infrequent and are viewed as recognition of distinguished contribution to constitutional and legal practice before the apex court.
The latest recommendations come amid continuing efforts to address pendency and maintain the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court.
