The Supreme Court Collegium has approved the appointment of five Additional Judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court as Permanent Judges, clearing their confirmation in a meeting held on September 23, 2026.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium has approved the proposals for the appointment of five Additional Judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court as Permanent Judges of that High Court.
The decision was taken by the Collegium in its meeting held on September 23, 2026, and notified through a statement uploaded on the Supreme Court’s website. The five judges recommended for confirmation are:
- Justice Maheswara Rao Kuncheam @ Kuncham
- Justice Thoota Chandra Dhana Sekar @ T.C.D. Sekhar
- Justice Challa Gunaranjan
- Justice Avadhanam Hari Haranadha Sarma
- Dr. Justice Yadavalli Lakshmana Rao
“The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 23rd September 2026, has approved the proposals for appointment of the following Additional Judges as Permanent Judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.”
Additional judge to permanent judge: how the process works
The confirmation reflects the two-stage manner in which many High Court judges are inducted. Under Article 224 of the Constitution, a person may first be appointed an Additional Judge of a High Court for a limited period, typically to help deal with a temporary increase in the court’s business or its pending arrears. A Permanent Judge, by contrast, is appointed under Article 217.
The elevation of an additional judge to permanent status is not automatic. It follows a fresh recommendation by the High Court Collegium and approval by the Supreme Court Collegium, and, in the case of additional judges, is frequently preceded by an assessment of the judgments the judge has rendered during the additional tenure, undertaken by a committee of Supreme Court judges. The Collegium’s approval is the recommendation stage; the formal appointment follows the issuance of a warrant of appointment by the President, on the Central Government’s processing of the recommendation.
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Why it matters
The confirmation of five judges at once is a significant step towards stabilising the strength of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which has its principal seat at Amaravati and a sanctioned strength of 28 permanent and 9 additional judges. Making additional judges permanent secures their continuance on the Bench beyond the limited term of an additional appointment and contributes to filling the court’s permanent complement, an important consideration for a judiciary contending with heavy pendency. The decision is part of the Collegium’s routine, but constitutionally essential, function of maintaining the strength and continuity of the higher judiciary.
Source: Statement of the Supreme Court Collegium dated September 23, 2026, on the appointment of five Additional Judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh as Permanent Judges.