The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India, has formally recommended the transfer of two High Court judges to different state High Courts. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Collegium held on August 6, 2026, according to an official statement released by the apex court.
The recommendations propose the transfer of Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak from the Orissa High Court to the Gujarat High Court, and Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra from the Orissa High Court to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Details of Recommended Transfers
| Sl. No. | Name of the Judge | Parent High Court | Transferred From | Transferred To |
| 1. | Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak | Gauhati High Court | Orissa High Court | Gujarat High Court |
| 2. | Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra | Orissa High Court | Orissa High Court | Chhattisgarh High Court |
Breakdown of Recommendations
- Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak: Whose parent High Court is Gauhati, is currently serving as a judge at the Orissa High Court. The Collegium has proposed his transfer to the Gujarat High Court.
- Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra: Currently serving at the Orissa High Court, has been recommended for transfer to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Constitutional Process for Judicial Transfers
Under Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President of India may, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, transfer a judge from one High Court to any other High Court.
Following the Collegium’s formal resolution, the proposal moves through standard constitutional channels:
- The recommendations are submitted to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice for administrative processing.
- The file is forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for executive concurrence.
- Upon approval, the President of India issues the final notification giving effect to the transfers.
