Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Elevation of Three High Court Chief Justices to Apex Court The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the elevation of the Chief Justices of the Gujarat, Delhi, and Telangana High Courts to fill vacant seats on the apex court bench. In a significant step aimed at addressing vacancies on the apex court bench, the Supreme Court collegium has recommended the elevation of Chief Justices from three different state High Courts to serve as judges of the top court. The decision was formalized during a high-level collegium meeting convened on Monday, September 28, 2026. The three judicial officers cleared for elevation are Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh. Collegium Deliberations and Sanctioned Judicial Strength The Supreme Court functions with a sanctioned strength of 38 judges, and this round of nominations directly targets vacancies that have remained open. The collegium panel, headed by the Chief Justice of India, comprised Justice Vikram Nath, Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Justice M.M. Sundresh, and Justice P.S. Narasimha. Following extensive deliberations on September 28, 2026, the panel arrived at a consensus on all three candidates. These official recommendations now move to the central government for administrative vetting and the subsequent issuance of a formal notification. Profile and Career of Justice Sunita Agarwal Justice Sunita Agarwal initially enrolled as an advocate in 1990. Following years of legal practice, she assumed judicial office as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court in November 2011. She subsequently took charge as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in July 2023. Notably, she will have a relatively long tenure at the apex court, with roughly five years remaining before she reaches the mandatory Supreme Court retirement age of 65. Judicial Track Record of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has been serving as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court since January 2025. He entered the legal profession as an advocate in 1991 and previously represented the state administration as the Chief Standing Counsel of Uttar Pradesh. In November 2011, he was elevated to the bench of the Allahabad High Court. Before taking charge in the national capital, Justice Upadhyaya served as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court starting in July 2023. Professional Background of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh Currently serving as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was initially sworn in as a judge of the Jharkhand High Court in 2012. Prior to his posting in Telangana, he also held office as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. Before joining the higher judiciary, Justice Singh built an extensive legal practice arguing cases across both the Patna High Court and the Jharkhand High Court. Next Steps in the Appointment Process With the collegium having finalized these three names, the procedural next step rests with the central government. Once the executive gives its clearance and the President signs the warrants of appointment, the three judges will formally take the oath of office at the Supreme Court. The induction of these senior jurists is expected to reinforce the bench and expedite the disposal of pending litigation across the country. What this means for you The recommendation to elevate three High Court Chief Justices will directly reinforce judicial manpower and help reduce backlog across India's highest judicial forum. • Across India: Operating closer to the full sanctioned strength of 38 judges will help the Supreme Court expedite hearings on vital civil, criminal, and constitutional appeals. Ordinary litigants can anticipate shorter waiting periods for hearings and final judgments. • In Gujarat, Delhi, and Telangana: The elevation of the sitting Chief Justices will trigger a fresh round of leadership transitions in these state High Courts. Litigants and lawyers in those jurisdictions will see restructured benches and newly designated administrative heads. • Judicial Diversity: The induction of Justice Sunita Agarwal adds experienced senior leadership to the apex bench with an operational runway of roughly five years until retirement. Her elevation also strengthens gender representation at the summit of the Indian judiciary. • Case Pendency: Adding three seasoned judges enhances bench capacity to clear thousands of special leave petitions and pending appeals. This procedural momentum will systematically lower legal delays and ongoing litigation expenses for parties involved. Why this happened This administrative move was initiated to address judicial vacancies on the apex bench and ensure the smooth disposal of mounting caseloads. • Sanctioned Bench Capacity: The Supreme Court has a sanctioned cap of 38 judges, making periodic appointments essential to operate without judicial shortfalls. Vacant seats inevitably increase the caseload borne by the remaining sitting judges. • Seniority and Leadership Experience: All three nominees possess extensive administrative and judicial backgrounds as Chief Justices of major High Courts. Their combined service spans the High Courts of Allahabad, Bombay, Jharkhand, Tripura, Gujarat, Delhi, and Telangana. • Unanimous Collegium Consensus: The formal resolution was passed during the meeting on September 28, 2026, after the Chief Justice of India and four senior collegium colleagues evaluated the eligibility and service records of the candidates under established judicial appointment procedures. Questions & Answers 1. Which three Chief Justices have been recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court? The collegium has recommended Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Telangana High Court Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh. 2. What is the total sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court? The sanctioned judicial strength of the Supreme Court is 38 judges. 3. When did the collegium meeting take place? The collegium meeting took place on Monday, September 28, 2026. 4. Who were the members of the collegium panel? Along with the Chief Justice of India, the panel included Justice Vikram Nath, Justice B.V. Nagarathna, Justice M.M. Sundresh, and Justice P.S. Narasimha. 5. How long will Justice Sunita Agarwal serve on the Supreme Court bench? She has approximately five years remaining before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 for Supreme Court judges. 6. What is the procedural next step following the collegium's recommendation? The recommendation goes to the central government for processing, followed by the issuance of a presidential warrant of appointment and formal notification. https://trendkia.com/en/national/supreme-court-men-tina-high-court-ke-mukhya-nyayadhisha-honge-padonnata-collegium-ne-kendra-ko-bheje-nama-40002 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.