The Supreme Court Collegium has introduced a key policy shift to smooth leadership transitions in high courts. It will transfer judges slated to become chief justices to their new courts at least two months before vacancies arise. The move aims to enhance judicial administration efficiency.
The Supreme Court Collegium made this decision during a meeting on Wednesday evening, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The collegium also includes Justices Vikram Nath, JK Maheshwari, BV Nagarathna, and MM Sundresh.
According to the collegium's statement, “The Collegium has taken a policy decision that in order to strengthen the efficiency and quality of administration of justice, a judge who is proposed to take over the high court as its chief justice may be transferred well in advance, preferably two months before the vacancy arises, so that such recommendee in the meantime becomes well conversant with the affairs of that high court and assumes charge of the office of chief justice, on the retirement of incumbent chief justice.”
Implementing the new policy for the first time, the collegium recommended transferring Justice Lisa Gill from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. She has also been recommended for appointment as chief justice there effective from the vacancy in April, upon the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur.
Additionally, Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, currently a judge of the Kerala High Court (parent high court: Madhya Pradesh), has been recommended as chief justice of the Madras High Court, following the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice MM Shrivastava on March 5.
The collegium approved the appointment of nine advocates as judges of the Patna High Court: Md. Nadim Seraj, Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish, Sanjeev Kumar, Girijish Kumar, Alok Kumar, Raj Kumar, Rana Vikram Singh, and Vikash Kumar.
A person aware of the deliberations said the new policy reflects an effort to strengthen institutional continuity and administrative efficiency. “Chief justices play a pivotal role not only in judicial work but in roster allocation, infrastructure planning, case management and overall administrative supervision.”
The policy aligns with the memorandum of procedure (MoP) stipulation that a high court chief justice must be appointed from outside the parent high court to preserve institutional independence. The Rajasthan High Court has been functioning under an acting chief justice since September 2025, with no recommendation yet for a full-time chief justice.
