Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Nine Judicial Appointments Across Four High Courts

NEW DELHI – In a significant move to bolster judicial strength across the country, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, has recommended the appointment and confirmation of nine judges in the High Courts of Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Madras, and Tripura. The recommendations, formalized in a meeting on September 15, 2025, encompass the elevation of judicial officers and advocates to the bench, as well as the confirmation of several Additional Judges as Permanent Judges.

The Collegium, which also includes senior-most Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath, issued five separate resolutions detailing its decisions. These recommendations will now be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice for processing and final approval by the President of India, in accordance with the established Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).

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Detailed Breakdown of the Recommendations

The Collegium's proposals address vacancies and judicial tenure in four key High Courts, reflecting a mix of new appointments from the subordinate judiciary and the bar, alongside the crucial step of making Additional Judges permanent.

Karnataka High Court: A Mix of New Elevations and Permanency

The High Court of Karnataka is set to receive three new judges from the state's judicial services and will see one Additional Judge made permanent. The Collegium approved the elevation of three distinguished Judicial Officers:

* Geetha Kadaba Bharatharaja Setty

* Muralidhara Pai Borkatte

* Tyagaraja Narayan Inavally

Their elevation from the district judiciary brings extensive trial court experience to the High Court bench, a factor often emphasized for maintaining a balanced judicial perspective.

In a separate resolution, the Collegium endorsed the proposal to make Justice Kurubarahalli Venkataramareddy Aravind , currently an Additional Judge, a Permanent Judge of the Karnataka High Court. This confirmation provides stability and long-term certainty to the bench.

A statement released by the top court confirmed the decision: "The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 15th September, 2025 has approved the proposal for appointment of Shri Justice Kurubarahalli Venkataramareddy Aravind, Additional Judge as a Permanent Judge in the High Court of Karnataka."

Himachal Pradesh High Court: Fresh Appointments from the Bar

The Collegium has recommended two advocates for elevation as judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, a move that will enrich the bench with talent directly from the legal profession. The recommended advocates are:

* Jiya Lal Bhardwaj

* Romesh Verma

Appointments from the Bar are critical for bringing diverse legal perspectives and specialized knowledge to the appellate judiciary. The Collegium’s statement noted its approval for "the proposal for appointment of the following Advocates as Judges of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh:

(i) Shri Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, and

(ii) Shri Romesh Verma."

Madras and Tripura High Courts: Confirmation of Additional Judges

The recommendations for the Madras and Tripura High Courts focus on solidifying their current judicial strength by making Additional Judges permanent.

For the Madras High Court , the Collegium approved the proposals to appoint:

* Justice N. Senthilkumar

* Justice G. Arul Murugan

Both are currently serving as Additional Judges, and their confirmation as Permanent Judges follows a review of their judicial performance and suitability.

Similarly, for the Tripura High Court , the Collegium recommended that Justice Biswajit Palit , an Additional Judge, be made a Permanent Judge. This step is vital for ensuring continuity and stability within smaller High Courts.

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The Judicial Appointment Process: A Procedural Overview

These recommendations mark a key step in the intricate judicial appointment process governed by the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP). The MoP outlines a collaborative and consultative mechanism involving both the judiciary and the executive.

1. Initiation: The process for High Court appointments is initiated by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court, who consults with the two senior-most colleagues on the bench.
2. State-Level Consultation: The proposal is then sent to the state's Chief Minister and Governor, who forward their recommendations to the Union Minister of Law and Justice.
3. Executive Scrutiny: The Union Law Ministry, along with intelligence agencies, conducts a background check on the candidates. The complete file, with all inputs, is then sent to the Supreme Court Collegium.
4. Collegium's Deliberation: The SC Collegium, comprising the CJI and senior-most judges, evaluates the candidates based on merit, integrity, and suitability before making its final recommendation.
5. Final Approval: The Collegium's recommendations are sent back to the Union government. While the government can seek reconsideration, a reiterated recommendation is conventionally binding. The process culminates with the President of India signing the warrant of appointment.

As one source noted, "After the SC Collegium's recommendation, the Centre will deliberate upon these names and inform about its decision to the apex body, may be likely within a couple of days or within a fortnight."

Implications for the Judiciary and Legal Fraternity

The latest set of recommendations carries significant implications. For the concerned High Courts, these appointments will help alleviate caseloads and reduce judicial vacancies, which remain a persistent challenge across the Indian judiciary. The confirmation of Additional Judges as Permanent Judges provides them with security of tenure, allowing them to adjudicate without uncertainty about their continuation.

For legal practitioners, the appointments signal the arrival of new judicial minds to the bench. Lawyers practicing in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh will be particularly interested in the judicial philosophies and procedural approaches of the newly elevated judges from the subordinate judiciary and the bar, respectively.

The Collegium's decision to recommend a diverse set of candidates—from district judges with grassroots experience to seasoned advocates with specialized legal knowledge—underscores the judiciary's effort to create a well-rounded bench capable of tackling a wide array of complex legal issues. The timely filling of these positions is crucial for the efficient administration of justice and for maintaining public faith in the judicial system. The legal community will now await the swift processing of these names by the executive to see these recommendations come to fruition.