Centre Approves Appointment of Chief Justices for Seven High Courts

New Delhi: Following the Supreme Court’s request for details on the reiterated Collegium recommendations regarding judicial appointments, the Centre approved the appointments of Chief Justices for seven High Courts on Saturday. This decision comes amid concerns over delays in notifying these appointments.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on X that President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Manmohan, the acting Chief Justice, as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. Justice Rajiv Shakdher from the Delhi High Court will now serve as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Additionally, Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao of Himachal Pradesh has been transferred to serve as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait from the Delhi High Court has been appointed as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, while Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji has been named Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court. Justice Mukerji, who has been a judge since May 2009, is the most senior puisne judge of the Calcutta High Court.

Justice Tashi Rabstan, currently the acting Chief Justice, will now assume the role of Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. Justice K.R. Shriram, the second senior-most puisne judge of the Bombay High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, while his colleague, Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar, will serve as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

On Friday, the Supreme Court addressed the Centre, emphasizing that the “Collegium is not a search committee.” The Court requested a tabulated status update on the reiterated Collegium recommendations. The matter concerning judges’ appointments has been adjourned to the following week. The Court stated, “Let’s wait a little while. Some of these appointments are in the pipeline, and we expect them to be finalized shortly.”

Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s bench added, “Ultimately, Mr. Attorney General, the goal is not to uncover past issues but to move forward. Governance must proceed.” On the previous day, Attorney General R. Venkataramani requested the apex court to delay the hearing on pending pleas regarding delays in judicial appointments and transfers. He suggested, “If we could postpone the petitions for another week, I will be able to present some progress. Let us not address this matter tomorrow.”