In a significant administrative move marking the beginning of a new tenure, the Supreme Court Collegium under Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has proposed a reshuffle in the leadership of five High Courts, finalised on December 18th, aimed at filling imminent vacancies and repositioning judicial expertise.
The Recommended Appointments. For Uttarakhand High Court, Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta of the Allahabad High Court has been nominated to succeed Chief Justice Guhanathan Narendar on his retirement on January 9, 2026. For Meghalaya High Court, Justice Revati P. Mohite Dere of the Bombay High Court has been recommended, following the proposed transfer of incumbent Justice Soumen Sen. For Jharkhand High Court, Justice M.S. Sonak of the Bombay High Court has been proposed, succeeding Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan. For Sikkim High Court, Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque of the Kerala High Court has been recommended for elevation. For Patna High Court, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo of the Orissa High Court has been recommended for the top post.
The Strategic Transfer. The collegium has also recommended that Justice Soumen Sen, currently Chief Justice of Meghalaya, be transferred to Kerala as Chief Justice, ahead of the retirement of Kerala's present Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar on January 9, 2026. Justice Sen was previously at the centre of a notable episode in January 2024, when the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of remarks by a Calcutta High Court judge criticising a division bench order he led, related to alleged irregularities in West Bengal's MBBS admissions; he was subsequently transferred from Calcutta to Meghalaya in October 2025.
Context. These recommendations, the first under CJI Surya Kant, offer an early glimpse of the collegium's priorities — speed in filling vacancies, geographical diversity, and strategic use of transfers for institutional management. By acting on vacancies announced well in advance, the collegium gives the Union Government time for background checks and processing, aiming for a seamless transition. The recommendations now await government approval, with established precedent holding that the collegium's final opinion holds primacy.
