SC Collegium Recommends Appointment Of Chief Justices At 4 High Courts - Live Law

**Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Four New Chief Justices**

The Supreme Court Collegium, chaired by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, has submitted recommendations to the government for the appointment of chief justices to four high courts. The list includes Justice A. Y. Kogje for the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice R. K. Garg for the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice S. K. Mishra for the Gujarat High Court, and Justice N. V. R. Rao for the Karnataka High Court. The collegium’s memorandum, dated 28 August 2026, cites seniority, administrative capability and a clean record of judgments as the primary criteria for each selection.

The recommendations come amid a brewing controversy in Rajasthan, where Acting Chief Justice Justice Arvind Kumar Sharma has faced intense opposition from the state bar. The dispute originated from a formal complaint lodged by a Supreme Court judge alleging procedural irregularities in the acting chief’s handling of certain cases. In response, lawyers staged a sit‑in protest outside Sharma’s courtroom on 30 August, demanding his removal and a transparent selection process for a permanent chief justice. The Rajasthan High Court’s bar council announced a boycott of the court’s proceedings, describing the situation as “tense” and urging the collegium to expedite a permanent appointment.

Legal analysts say the Rajasthan episode underscores the broader challenges of judicial administration and the importance of maintaining the collegium’s credibility. While the government is expected to act on the collegium’s recommendations within the next two weeks, officials have not yet confirmed the timeline for formalizing the appointments. Bar associations across the country have welcomed the new nominations, emphasizing that swift implementation will help restore confidence in the high courts and prevent further disruptions to the delivery of justice.