With five sitting judges retiring in 2026, the Supreme Court of India faces a critical year of transition. The timely filling of vacancies will be key to maintaining judicial strength, managing pendency, and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of justice.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India will undergo a notable reshuffle in 2026, as five of its sitting judges are going to retire during the year. While judicial retirements are routine, the cluster of vacancies within a short time frame makes 2026 particularly important for the administration of justice and the functioning of the apex court.
These exits will place renewed emphasis on the appointment process led by the Supreme Court Collegium, as well as the pace of approvals by the Union Government.
As of the end of 2025, the Supreme Court is functioning with a sanctioned capacity of 34 judges, which includes the Chief Justice of India. Maintaining this number is essential for the court to manage its extensive docket, especially given the rising number of constitutional and appellate cases.
Any delay in appointing successors could temporarily reduce the number of operational benches.
Judges Scheduled to Retire in 2026
The five judges set to demit office in 2026 come from diverse High Court backgrounds, with retirements staggered between April and November:
- Justice Rajesh Bindal
- Justice Pankaj Mithal
- Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari
- Justice Sanjay Karol
- Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
Justice Rajesh Bindal: Retiring on 15 April 2026, formerly of the Punjab & Haryana High Court
Justice Rajesh Bindal, born on 16 April 1961 in Ambala, Haryana, earned his LL.B. from Kurukshetra University in 1985 and began practice at the Punjab & Haryana High Court the same year. He represented various government bodies, including the Income Tax Department and EPFO, and assisted Haryana in the Satluj–Yamuna water dispute.
He was elevated as a Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2006 and later served as Judge and Chief Justice in the High Courts of Jammu & Kashmir, Calcutta, and Allahabad. Known for judicial reforms and technology initiatives, he chaired key committees on electronic evidence, court digitisation, and ADR mechanisms.
Justice Bindal was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 13 February 2023.
Justice Pankaj Mithal: Retirement due on 16 June 2026, from the Allahabad High Court
Justice Pankaj Mithal, born on 17 June 1961 in Meerut into a family of lawyers, completed his early education at St. Mary’s Academy, Meerut, earned a B.Com (Hons.) from the University of Allahabad in 1982, and a law degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. Enrolled in the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh in 1985, he practiced primarily in civil law, handling matters related to land acquisition, rent control, education, motor accidents, labor, service, and constitutional law.
He served as Standing Counsel for the U.P. Awas Evam Vikas Parishad and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra. Following the judicial legacy of his father, Justice Narendra Nath Mithal, he was appointed Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 2006, became Senior Judge at the Lucknow Bench in 2020, and was elevated as Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in 2021. He subsequently served as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court in 2022.
Justice Mithal is a Governor’s nominee to the Executive Council of Chaudhary Charan Singh University, a trustee of Etawah Hindi Sewa Nidhi, and founder trustee of the Justice Narendra Nath Mithal Memorial Foundation. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 6 February 2023 and is set to retire on 16 June 2026.
Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari: Superannuating on 28 June 2026, linked to the Madhya Pradesh High Court
Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari was born on 29 June 1961 in Joura, Morena (M.P.). He earned his B.A. in 1982, LL.B. in 1985, and LL.M. in 1991, and enrolled as an advocate with the Madhya Pradesh Bar Council in November 1985, practicing in civil, criminal, constitutional, service, and tax law. He also served as an elected member of the M.P. State Bar Council.
He was appointed Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2005 and became a permanent Judge in 2008. He contributed to several committees to improve High Court administration. He later served as the first Chief Justice of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2019, and as Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court in 2021.
Justice Maheshwari was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 31 August 2021.
Justice Sanjay Karol: To retire on 22 August 2026, with roots in the Himachal Pradesh High Court
Justice Sanjay Karol, born on 23 August 1961 in Garli village, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, completed his schooling at St. Edward’s School, Shimla, and earned his B.A. (Hons.) and LL.B. from Himachal Pradesh University. He practiced law across Delhi and various High Courts and served as Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh from 1998 to 2003. He was designated Senior Advocate in 1999.
He was elevated as a Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in March 2007, serving for over 11 years, including a stint as Acting Chief Justice, and held roles such as Patron-in-Chief of the Himachal Pradesh Legal Services Authority and Chancellor of HP National Law University. He later served as Chief Justice of Tripura High Court (2018) and Patna High Court (2019), where he also held leadership roles in legal services authorities and law universities.
Justice Karol was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 6 February 2023.
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma: Final retirement of the year on 29 November 2026, also from the Madhya Pradesh High Court
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, born on 30 November 1961 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, comes from a family of educators. He earned a B.Sc. with distinction in 1981 and an LL.B. in 1984 from Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar, receiving three Gold Medals. He enrolled as an advocate in 1984, practicing constitutional, civil, service, and criminal law, and served as Additional Central Government Counsel (1993) and Senior Panel Counsel (2004). He was designated Senior Advocate in 2003.
He was appointed Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2008 and became a permanent Judge in 2010. He contributed to legal education as a member of the advisory boards of National Law Universities and published research papers. He later served as Judge and Acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court (2021), Chief Justice of Telangana High Court (2021), and Chief Justice of Delhi High Court (2022).
Justice Sharma was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 9 November 2023.
Together, these retirements will create five vacancies in less than a year, a development that requires planning.
The Supreme Court hears thousands of matters each year, many involving questions of constitutional importance. A reduced bench strength can lead to:
- Fewer courts are sitting daily
- Longer waiting periods for hearings
- Slower resolution of pending cases
Judicial efficiency is closely tied to the court operating at full capacity.
The Supreme Court Collegium traditionally initiates recommendations months before retirements occur. With five judges stepping down in 2026, the Collegium is expected to remain active throughout the year to ensure continuity.
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