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Recommends Justice Ashwani Mishra as Chief Justice
The has recommended Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra for appointment as Chief Justice of the , a move that would make permanent the who has led the court since June 1. The recommendation came from a meeting held on , headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
Four High Courts, Four Recommended Chiefs
In its official statement, the
said:
"The
in its meeting held on 6th August, 2026 has recommended
of Judges as Chief Justices of the High Courts, as mentioned below."
The four recommendations are:
| Judge | Present High Court | Recommended as Chief Justice of | |---|---|---| | Justice V. Kameswar Rao | Delhi | | | Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge | | | | Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi | Allahabad | | | Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra | Punjab & Haryana | Punjab & Haryana |
Justice Rao, who served as of the before returning to Delhi, has been earmarked for . Justice Ghuge, currently of , is recommended for . Justice Tripathi, a senior judge of the , would helm .
The also recommended two transfers: Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak from the to the , and Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra from Orissa to .
A Judge Who Rose From the Allahabad Bar
A B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from Kirori Mal College and an LL.B. from Delhi University's Campus Law Centre set Justice Mishra on a legal path that began with enrolment as an advocate on . He practised on the civil, constitutional and service side, appeared for statutory bodies and public-sector corporations, and was designated in 2013.
He joined the as an Additional Judge on and was confirmed as a on . After serving on that Bench, he was transferred to the , where he took oath on . When Justice Sheel Nagu was elevated to the , Justice Mishra assumed charge as on .
His tenure at the helm has been marked by an emphasis on judicial infrastructure, access to justice and environmental concerns. The court has inaugurated the Tower of Justice at Gurugram and a multi-level parking facility at the District Courts Complex in Chandigarh. A committee has been formed to strengthen court infrastructure, and institutional drives have covered tree plantation and youth rehabilitation. Last month, the High Court disposed of 18,574 cases against 18,373 fresh filings.
A Constitutional Process Now Moves to the Centre
The 's resolution is a formal step in the process of appointing High Court Chief Justices. Under and the existing , the names now go to the . If approved, the appointments will take effect after the President issues the necessary warrants.
The recommendations come at a time when several High Courts are functioning without permanent Chief Justices after retirements and elevations to the . The latest list, if accepted, would fill four such vacancies.
Key Observations
The 's public statement was brief:
"Thein its meeting held on 6th August, 2026 has recommendedof Judges as Chief Justices of the High Courts, as mentioned below."
It added that the recommendations would be processed by the Centre
"in accordance with the existing
governing appointment and transfer of judges of the High Courts."
What the Recommendation Means
For the , the recommendation signals continuity. Justice Mishra has led the court's administrative push on infrastructure and public interest matters since June; a permanent appointment would allow that direction to continue. He is scheduled to retire in .
The final word now rests with the , but the 's choice makes clear that the court's acting head is its recommended permanent head.
