The Supreme Court Collegium has officially approved the elevation of six individuals to the position of Judge at the Chhattisgarh High Court. The decision, formalized during the Collegium’s meeting on October 30, 2026, seeks to bolster the judicial strength of the High Court by incorporating a mix of experienced legal practitioners and career judicial officers. The recommendation includes four prominent advocates and two seasoned judicial officers, signaling a balanced approach to the recruitment process for the state’s highest judicial institution.

Selection of Legal Professionals for Elevation

The list of recommended advocates includes Anand Shukla, Ratna Nidhi Pusty—also known as R.N. Pusty or Ratan Pusty—Shashank Thakur, and Sourabh Sharma. These individuals have been selected based on their professional standing and experience within the legal fraternity. By recommending these four advocates, the Collegium continues its established practice of drawing from the bar to ensure that the judiciary remains informed by practical litigation experience.

Alongside the advocates, the Collegium has recommended two judicial officers for elevation: Rajnish Shrivastava and Balram Prasad Verma. The inclusion of candidates from the subordinate judiciary reflects the importance of promoting experienced judges who have demonstrated long-term commitment and proficiency within the district and sessions court systems. This dual-source recruitment strategy—combining advocates and judicial officers—is designed to ensure the Chhattisgarh High Court bench is composed of diverse perspectives and comprehensive legal knowledge.

Procedural Context and Significance

The announcement follows the Collegium’s established deliberative process, which involves a comprehensive review of the credentials, integrity, and merit of potential candidates. This selection for the Chhattisgarh High Court is part of the broader national effort to fill vacancies in high courts across the country, aiming to reduce the backlog of cases and improve the efficiency of judicial service delivery. The appointment process is a meticulous exercise that underscores the autonomy and functional independence of the judiciary in managing its own human resources.

The Collegium's recent statement serves as the final administrative step in the recommendation phase. These names will now be forwarded to the Union Government for the requisite processing and final notification of appointment. The recommendation of these six candidates represents a significant step forward for the Chhattisgarh High Court, which has been working to address its functional requirements. By selecting candidates with varied professional backgrounds, the judiciary aims to ensure that the High Court remains equipped to handle increasingly complex legal issues and growing caseloads.

Strategic Strengthening of the High Court

The addition of six judges is expected to have a tangible impact on the daily functioning of the Chhattisgarh High Court. A larger bench facilitates the constitution of more division and single-judge benches, which in turn directly increases the court’s capacity to hear and dispose of litigation. Legal observers note that consistent and timely appointments are essential for maintaining the public’s confidence in the justice delivery system. The decision by the Collegium to finalize these recommendations is a crucial milestone in the court’s ongoing efforts to streamline its operations.

Following the approval of these names by the Supreme Court Collegium, the files move to the executive branch for the administrative formalities that precede a warrant of appointment issued by the President of India. Once the appointment process is complete, the six new judges are expected to assume their offices shortly thereafter. This injection of fresh judicial personnel comes at a time when the legal community and the public at large are focused on enhancing the accessibility and responsiveness of the courts, ensuring that the judicial mechanism remains robust and capable of fulfilling its constitutional mandate. The selection process highlights the rigorous vetting standards required to maintain the quality of the bench, ensuring that those elevated possess both the temperament and the technical expertise necessary for high judicial office.