The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, has recommended the appointment of four judges as Chief Justices of four High Courts. The recommendations were made at the Collegium meeting held on August 6, 2026.

The recommendations are:

• Justice V. Kameswar Rao — recommended as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. He is presently a judge of the Delhi High Court.

• Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge — recommended as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. He is presently serving as Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

• Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi — recommended as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He is presently a judge of the Allahabad High Court.

• Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra — recommended as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He is presently serving as its Acting Chief Justice. 

Recommendations Await Centre's Approval

The Collegium's recommendations will now be forwarded to the Union Government for consideration. The appointments will become effective only after the Central Government accepts the recommendations and the requisite notifications are issued.

The move comes against the backdrop of several High Courts functioning under Acting Chief Justices following the elevation of their former Chief Justices to the Supreme Court and subsequent retirements. In July, seven of the country's 25 High Courts were reported to be functioning without permanent Chief Justices.

The latest recommendations are expected to fill four of those vacancies — Patna, Calcutta, Bombay, and Punjab & Haryana.

Justice Ravindra Ghuge has been serving as Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, while Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra has been heading the Punjab and Haryana High Court as Acting Chief Justice.