SC Collegium recommends new Chief Justices for Rajasthan, MP and J&K and Ladakh HCs
New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, has recommended appointing three judges as Chief Justices of the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Courts.
“The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 31st August, 2026, has recommended elevation of Judges as Chief Justices of the High Courts, as mentioned below,” said a statement released by the apex court. As per the recommendation, Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court has been recommended for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
The apex court Collegium has also recommended Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje of the Gujarat High Court for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Additionally, the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati of the Rajasthan High Court for elevation as Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
In a separate statement, the Supreme Court Collegium said it had recommended the transfer of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal from the Chhattisgarh High Court to the Rajasthan High Court.
“The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 31st August 2026, has recommended the transfer of Mr Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, Judge, High Court of Chhattisgarh, to the Rajasthan High Court,” the statement said.
The recommendation for a regular Chief Justice for the Rajasthan High Court comes days after CJI Surya Kant said he had taken note of concerns raised by Supreme Court judge Justice Sandeep Mehta regarding the functioning of the Rajasthan High Court.
Justice Mehta, who was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Rajasthan High Court, had, in three letters dated August 2, August 10 and August 17, urged the CJI and the Supreme Court Collegium to appoint a regular Chief Justice from another High Court to head the Rajasthan High Court.
He had also raised allegations against Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, including alleged misuse of administrative powers, manipulation of case listings and favouritism towards certain lawyers and parties.
CJI Kant stressed that allegations against a sitting judge must be dealt with strictly through established institutional mechanisms and cannot be adjudicated in the public domain.
“The fact that allegations have been made, therefore, cannot by itself be treated as a finding against the judge,” the CJI had said.
He further said the matter was being examined at the appropriate level and that the process would take into account the material placed by Justice Mehta as well as Justice Sharma’s response.
The SC Collegium, in its latest recommendations, has now proposed Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal of the Chhattisgarh High Court as the next Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. Separately, the top court Collegium also recommended Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra of the Orissa High Court as Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court, following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on September 4, 2026.
The Centre will now process the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations in accordance with the existing memorandum of procedure governing the appointment and transfer of High Court judges.
–IANS
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