New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) — The Supreme Court collegium has taken a “policy decision” that a judge proposed to take over a high court as its chief justice may be transferred well in advance, preferably two months before the vacancy arises.
The collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, said the decision was taken to ensure that the judge becomes well conversant with the affairs of the concerned high court and can assume charge as chief justice immediately upon the retirement of the incumbent.
“In order to strengthen the efficiency and quality of administration of justice, a judge who is proposed to take over a high court as its chief justice may be transferred well in advance, preferably two months before the vacancy arises,” a statement uploaded on the apex court website said.
Following this policy decision, the collegium resolved to recommend the transfer of Justice Lisa Gill, judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh for her appointment as chief justice of that high court with effect from the date the vacancy arises.
The collegium, which met on February 26, also recommended the appointment of Kerala High Court judge Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari as chief justice of the Madras High Court following the retirement of the incumbent chief justice on March 5, 2026.
In a separate statement, the collegium approved proposals for the appointment of nine advocates — Md. Nadim Seraj, Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish, Sanjeev Kumar, Girijish Kumar, Alok Kumar, Raj Kumar, Rana Vikram Singh and Vikash Kumar — as judges of the Patna High Court. (PTI)