In a significant judicial reshuffle, the Central Government has officially announced the appointments of new Chief Justices to eight High Courts across India. This move follows the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium, which were initially submitted on July 11 and later adjusted on September 17.
Justice Manmohan, who has been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, has now been appointed as the Chief Justice of the same court. This decision solidifies his position and leadership within one of the country’s pivotal judicial circuits.
Further appointments include Justice Rajiv Shakdher, presently a judge at the Delhi High Court, who will take up the mantle as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Meanwhile, Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, also from Delhi HC, has been designated as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The reshuffle reaches beyond the northern states. Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji from the Calcutta High Court will now lead the Meghalaya High Court, and Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar from the Bombay High Court has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. Justice Tashi Rabstan, from the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, will serve as the Chief Justice of his current jurisdiction.
Justice KR Shriram and Justice MS Ramachandra Rao, both of whom have served with distinction at the Bombay and Himachal Pradesh High Courts respectively, will advance to become Chief Justices of the Madras High Court and the Jharkhand High Court, respectively.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who shared the news on the social media platform X, noted the critical role these appointments play in the administration of justice across the country.
Additionally, the Collegium has proposed the appointment of Justice GS Sandhawalia of the Punjab & Haryana High Court as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, succeeding Justice Shakdher upon his retirement on October 18.
