Centre notifies appointment of 9 new HC Chief Justices

In a major judicial reshuffle, the Union government on Monday (July 14, 2025) notified appointment nine new Chief Justices to various High Courts across the country.

Of the nine appointments, five judges — including two who were serving as Acting Chief Justices — have now been elevated and appointed as full-time Chief Justices of different High Courts. Meanwhile, four judges already holding the position of Chief Justice have been transferred to other High Courts.

Judges Elevated as Chief Justices:

1. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Acting Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, has been appointed as its Chief Justice.
2. Justice Vibhu Bakhru, Judge of Delhi High Court, is now Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.
3. Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court, has been posted as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court.
4. Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Judge in Patna High Court, has been appointed as Chief Justice of Patna High Court.
5. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Judge of Himachal Pradesh High Court, has been appointed as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.

Chief Justices Transferred:

1. Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava has been transferred from Rajasthan High Court to Madras High Court.
2. Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh has been shifted from Tripura to Telangana.
3. Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao has been moved from Jharkhand to Tripura.
4. Chief Justice KR Shriram has been transferred from Madras to Rajasthan.

These appointments and transfers were based on the recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium, made on May 26, 2025.