New Delhi, May 27: The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced the transfer of 21 judges across 10 high courts, marking one of the most significant reshuffles in the higher judiciary in recent years. The move, finalized by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, was made public following a meeting held on Monday.
While the apex court did not cite specific reasons, official sources indicated the transfers were recommended “in the interest of justice.”
Punjab and Haryana High Court sees four major shifts
Among the affected states, Punjab and Haryana High Court saw notable changes:
- Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has been recommended for transfer back to the Rajasthan High Court.
- Justice Sudhir Singh will be repatriated to the Patna High Court.
- Justice Anil Kshetarpal is slated to move to the Delhi High Court.
- In a reciprocal shift, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra from the Allahabad High Court is to be transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Nationwide changes across high courts
The transfer list includes the following:
- Justice Sujoy Paul: Telangana HC → Calcutta HC
- Justice V Kameswar Rao: Karnataka HC → Delhi HC
- Justice Lanusungkum Jamir: Gauhati HC → Calcutta HC
- Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak: Gauhati HC → Orissa HC
- Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre: Bombay HC → Delhi HC
- Justice Suman Shyam: Gauhati HC → Bombay HC
- Justice Vivek Chaudhary: Allahabad HC → Delhi HC
- Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh: Kerala HC → Karnataka HC
- Justice Vivek Kumar Singh: Madras HC → Madhya Pradesh HC
- Justice Battu Devanand: Madras HC → Andhra Pradesh HC
- Justice Om Prakash Shukla: Allahabad HC → Delhi HC
- Justice Shree Chandrashekhar: Rajasthan HC → Bombay HC
- Justice Arun Kumar Monga: Rajasthan HC → Delhi HC
- Justice Jayant Banerji: Allahabad HC → Karnataka HC
- Justice C Sumalatha: Karnataka HC → Telangana HC
- Justice Lalitha Kanneganti: Karnataka HC → Telangana HC
- Justice Annireddy Abhishek Reddy: Patna HC → Telangana HC
Elevation to Supreme Court and new Chief Justices
The Collegium also recommended the elevation of three senior judges to the Supreme Court:
- Justice NV Anjaria, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court
- Justice Vijay Bishnoi, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court
- Justice Atul S Chandurkar, Judge, Bombay High Court
Additionally, five judges have been proposed for appointment as Chief Justices of the high courts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gauhati, Patna, and Jharkhand.
This major judicial reshuffle signals a renewed push by the top court to enhance administrative efficiency and judicial integrity across India’s high courts.
