ON THURSDAY, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Chief Justices to five High Courts.
The Collegium, which comprises Chief Justice of India (‘CJI’) Surya Kant and Justices Vikram Nath and J.K. Maheshwari, took the decision.
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta to lead the Uttarakhand High Court
The senior-most judge of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, has been recommended for appointment as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. The incumbent Chief Justice Justice G. Narendar is slated to retire on January 9, 2026.
Justice Gupta was appointed as a judge of the Allahabad High Court on April 12, 2013. He is due to retire on October 8, 2026.
Justice Revati Mohite Dere will be chief of the Meghalaya High Court
Justice Revati P. Mohite Dere, who is presently a senior judge at the Bombay High Court, has been recommended for appointment as Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court. The incumbent Chief Justice there, Justice Soumen Sen, is being transferred to the Kerala High Court as Chief Justice upon the retirement of the current Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court on January 9, 2026.
Justice Dere was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013. She is due to retire on April 16, 2027.
Justice M.S. Sonak will steer the Jharkhand High Court
Another judge of the Bombay High Court, Justice M.S. Sonak, has been recommended for appointment as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. The current Chief Justice there, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, is retiring on January 8, 2026.
Justice Sonak was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013 and is due to retire on November 27, 2026.
Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque will be chief justice in Sikkim
Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque, who is a senior judge of the Kerala High Court, has been recommended for appointment as Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. He was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court on January 23, 2014 and is due to retire on May 31, 2029.
Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo shall steer the Patna High Court
Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, who hails from the Orissa High Court, has been recommended for appointment as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. He was appointed as a judge of the Orissa High Court on July 2, 2014 and is due to retire on June 4, 2026.
At present, High Courts of Calcutta, Patna, Rajasthan and Sikkim have no regular chief justice.