NATIONAL: Supreme Court Collegium Proposes Key Judicial Appointments
New Supreme Court Recommendations
The Supreme Court Collegium, under Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai, has recommended Bombay High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Patna High Court Chief Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi for elevation to the Supreme Court.
These nominations aim to fill two existing vacancies in the apex court, which currently has 34 judges, including the CJI.
The recommendations, made on August 25, 2025, await approval from the central government and the President of India.
Profiles of Proposed Justices
Justice Alok Aradhe, born April 13, 1964, previously served as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court before leading the Bombay High Court. Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, born May 28, 1968, assumed the role of Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on July 21, 2025.
If appointed, Justice Pancholi is poised to become CJI on October 3, 2031, succeeding Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and will serve until May 27, 2033, based on seniority.
Addressing Supreme Court Vacancies
Since January 2025, the Supreme Court has seen six judicial retirements, with five new appointments made to address the resulting vacancies.
The current recommendations for Justices Aradhe and Pancholi seek to further stabilize the court’s judicial strength.
With these appointments, the Supreme Court is expected to maintain its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, pending approvals.
High Court Judge Transfers
The Collegium also proposed transferring 14 judges across various High Courts, including the return of Justices Kakti Manvendranath Roy and Donadi Ramesh to their parent Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Justice Subhendu Samanta, currently at the Kolkata High Court, is also recommended for transfer to Andhra Pradesh.
These transfers aim to enhance judicial efficiency and regional representation, with the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s judge count rising from 30 to 33 out of a sanctioned 37.
Background of Transferred Judges
- Justice Kakti Manvendranath Roy: Born May 21, 1964, in Parvathipuram, Andhra Pradesh, he hails from a farming family with a legacy of activism. A law graduate from NVP Law College, he served as Registrar General during the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana High Court bifurcation and was appointed a judge in 2019.
- Justice Donadi Ramesh: Born June 27, 1965, in Kammapalli, Chittoor, he studied law at VR Law College, Nellore, and served as a government advocate. Appointed to the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2020, he intelligentsia he was transferred to Allahabad in 2023.
- Justice Subhendu Samanta: Born November 25, 1971, in West Bengal, he graduated from Kolkata University and has served in various judicial roles, including as a CBI Special Court judge. Appointed a permanent judge of the Kolkata High Court in April 2025, he now faces transfer to Andhra Pradesh.
Strategic Judicial Reorganization
The Collegium’s decisions reflect a strategic approach to maintaining judicial continuity and regional diversity.
The proposed transfers and appointments underscore efforts to balance workload and representation across India’s judiciary.
Approval from the central government and the President is pending, with potential impacts on judicial operations nationwide.