SC recommends transfer of four high court chief justices in fresh reshuffle

In a significant development within the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of four high court chief justices, marking another major reshuffle. The decision was made during a meeting held on May 26, chaired by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai.

The transfers include Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava from Rajasthan to Madras High Court, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh from Tripura to Telangana High Court, Justice MS Ramachandra Rao from Jharkhand to Tripura High Court, and Justice KR Shriram from Madras to Rajasthan High Court.

In addition to the chief justices, the collegium has proposed transferring 21 judges across 10 different high courts, indicating a wide-ranging reorganisation in the judicial structure.

The collegium has also recommended the elevation of three senior judges to the Supreme Court: Karnataka High Court Chief Justice NV Anjaria, Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi, and Justice Atul Chandurkar of the Bombay High Court. If the appointments are cleared by the Centre, the Supreme Court will return to its sanctioned strength of 34 judges—it currently functions with 31.

Further, five judges have been proposed for appointment as new chief justices in the high courts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gauhati, Patna, and Jharkhand, as the top court moves to ensure smooth leadership transitions across key judicial positions.