The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on August 6, 2026, has formally recommended the elevation of four senior High Court judges as Chief Justices of key High Courts across the country, according to an official statement issued by the apex court.
The recommendations cover appointments to the High Courts of Bombay, Calcutta, Patna, and Punjab & Haryana.
Key Recommendations at a Glance
| Sl. No. | Name of the Judge | Present High Court | Recommended High Court (as Chief Justice) |
| 1. | Justice V. Kameswar Rao | Delhi High Court | Patna High Court |
| 2. | Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge | Bombay High Court | Calcutta High Court |
| 3. | Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi | Allahabad High Court | Bombay High Court |
| 4. | Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra | Punjab & Haryana High Court (Parent HC: Allahabad) | Punjab & Haryana High Court |
Details of the Judicial Elevations
- Patna High Court: Justice V. Kameswar Rao, currently serving at the Delhi High Court, has been recommended for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
- Calcutta High Court: Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, serving at the Bombay High Court, has been proposed to take charge as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
- Bombay High Court: Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, presently a judge at the Allahabad High Court, has been recommended for elevation as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
- Punjab & Haryana High Court: Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, whose parent High Court is Allahabad and who is currently serving at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, has been recommended for appointment as its permanent Chief Justice.
Next Steps in the Appointment Process
Following the Collegium’s formal resolution, the proposals will follow the constitutional appointment procedure:
- Union Law Ministry Review: The official recommendations are transmitted to the Ministry of Law and Justice for administrative processing and clearances.
- Executive Approval: The proposals move through the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for final executive concurrence.
- Presidential Warrant: Upon clearance, the President of India issues official notifications under Article 217 of the Constitution to formally appoint the Chief Justices to their respective High Courts.
