Centre Appoints Four High Court Chief Justices, Senior Advocate V. Mohana as Supreme Court Judges

New Delhi, June 2026 : The Centre on Monday approved the appointment of four High Court Chief Justices and senior advocate V. Mohana as judges of the Supreme Court, acting on the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium. The appointments are expected to strengthen the apex court’s capacity at a time when efforts are underway to reduce case pendency and improve the speed of judicial delivery.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointments through a post on social media platform X. He stated that the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, had approved the elevation of the five legal luminaries to the country’s highest court.

The newly appointed Supreme Court judges are Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court; Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court; Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court; and senior advocate V. Mohana.

The appointments follow recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium during its meetings held on May 22 and May 27, 2026. The Collegium had formally proposed the elevation of the four Chief Justices and senior advocate Mohana, citing their judicial experience, professional competence and contributions to the legal system.

Justice Sheel Nagu began his judicial career in the Madhya Pradesh High Court and was appointed as a judge of the court in May 2011. He later assumed office as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2024. Over the years, he has handled a wide range of constitutional, civil and administrative matters.

Justice Shree Chandrashekhar was elevated as a judge of the Jharkhand High Court in January 2013. Following an extensive judicial career, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in January 2025 and has since presided over several important legal matters.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva started his judicial journey in the Delhi High Court, where he was appointed an Additional Judge in April 2013 before becoming a permanent judge in March 2015. He took charge as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in July 2025.

Justice Arun Palli was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in December 2013. In April 2025, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, where he has overseen significant judicial proceedings.

The fifth appointee, senior advocate V. Mohana, is a distinguished member of the Bar with extensive experience before the Supreme Court. He has appeared in numerous constitutional, civil and service law matters and is widely respected for his legal expertise.

The appointments come shortly after the government increased the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court. Last month, President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, raising the sanctioned strength from 33 to 37 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

The move was aimed at addressing the growing backlog of cases and ensuring quicker disposal of matters before the apex court. With the addition of five new judges, the Supreme Court is expected to enhance its capacity to hear and decide a larger number of cases, thereby contributing to more efficient administration of justice.

The appointments mark a significant development in India’s judicial system and reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s highest court through the induction of experienced judges and legal professionals.

Team Maverick.