The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended five senior High Court judges for appointment as Chief Justices across Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Sikkim and Patna High Courts. The proposals will now be sent to the Union Government for approval and formal notification.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on December 18, 2025, has recommended the elevation and transfer of five senior judges from different High Courts for appointment as Chief Justices of various High Courts across India.
These recommendations have been made to ensure smooth administration of justice and to fill vacancies that are expected to arise due to the retirement or transfer of existing Chief Justices in the coming weeks.
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As per the official statement issued after the Collegium meeting, the decisions were taken after considering seniority, merit, experience, and the need for balanced judicial administration across High Courts.
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, who is currently serving as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, has been recommended for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court.
This vacancy will arise following the retirement of the present Chief Justice on January 9, 2026. Justice Gupta is a senior judge and has wide experience in constitutional, civil, and administrative law matters.
The Collegium has also recommended the appointment of Justice Revati P. Mohite Dere of the Bombay High Court as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court. This recommendation has been made following the transfer of the existing Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.
Justice Mohite Dere is among the senior-most women judges in the country and is well known for her work in criminal law, constitutional matters, and human rights cases.
Another recommendation from the Bombay High Court is that of Justice M.S. Sonak, who has been proposed for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
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The post is expected to become vacant after the retirement of the current Chief Justice on January 8, 2026. Justice Sonak has served in several important judicial capacities and is respected for his clarity of reasoning and judicial discipline.
The Collegium has further recommended Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque of the Kerala High Court for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
Justice Mustaque is known for several progressive judgments, particularly in areas relating to fundamental rights, education, and personal liberty, and his elevation is expected to strengthen the functioning of the Sikkim High Court.
In addition, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo of the Orissa High Court has been recommended for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
Justice Sahoo is a senior judge with extensive experience in handling criminal, civil, and constitutional cases, and his appointment is aimed at ensuring continuity and efficiency in the Patna High Court.
Following these recommendations, the proposals will now be sent to the Union government for further processing.
After completion of the required formalities, including clearance and approval under the constitutional procedure, formal notifications for the appointments will be issued. Once approved, the recommended judges will assume charge as Chief Justices of their respective High Courts.
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