Supreme Court Collegium recommends the appointments of New Chief Justices in 7 High Courts

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium constituting Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice BR Gavai, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna recommended the appointment of new Chief Justices in 7 High Courts. One resolution was passed by the SC Collegium on July 11 highlighting the names of Judges who were recommended for the appointment as Chief Justices of seven High Courts. 

• Mr. Justice Manmohan has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court (HC). He was appointed as a Judge of the Delhi HC on March 13, 2008, and is presently the Acting Chief Justice of Delhi HC.
• Mr. Justice Rajiv Shakdher has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. This vacancy would initiate after the transfer of Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Justice MS Ramachandra Rao, as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court; “consequent upon the retirement of Dr Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi on 19 July 2024.” 
• Mr. Justice Suresh Kumar Kait has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. After a separate resolution passed by the Collegium stating, “the candidature of Mr. Justice N Kotiswar Singh (CJ of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh HC) in terms of his judicial performance, administrative acumen, integrity, and merit, the Collegium is of the view that he is eminently suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court,” there would be a vacancy in the office of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh HC. 
• Mr. Justice GS Sandhawalia has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. While recommending his name, the Collegium observed, “Mr Justice G S Sandhawalia is the seniormost puisne Judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana…The High Court for the States of Punjab and Haryana is one of the largest High Courts in the country. Hence, it would be appropriate to appoint the seniormost puisne Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a Chief Justice.”
• Mr. Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. He is the seniormost puisne Judge of the Bombay High Court.
• Mr. Justice Tashi Rabstan has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court on the retirement of Mr. Justice S Vaidyanathan, Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC, who is due to retire on August 16, 2024.
• Mr. Justice KR Shriram has been recommended to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. While recommending his name the Collegium observed that he is the second seniormost puisne Judge of the Bombay HC. Therefore, the SC Collegium said, “Bearing in mind that Mr Justice K R Shriram is a senior Judge of the High Court of Bombay with experience on the judicial and administrative side, the Collegium recommends his appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Madras.”