The Centre on Wednesday cleared the appointment of chief justices for four high courts.
The incumbent Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice Alok Aradhe, has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. In 2009, the Madhya Pradesh High Court appointed Justice Aradhe as an additional justice; in 2016, he was transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. He also served momentarily as the court’s acting chief justice.
He was transferred to the Karnataka High Court in 2018. From July to October of 2022, Justice Aradhe served as the interim chief justice of the Karnataka High Court. His term as a High Court judge will last until April 2026.
The Centre appointed Orissa High Court judge Justice Subhasis Talapatra as Chief Justice of the same High Court. When the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice S Muralidhar, retires on August 7, his appointment will take effect.
Justice Talapatra is the second-most senior justice on the Orissa High Court. His term as a High Court judge is anticipated to conclude this October.
The government appointed the judge of the Allahabad High Court, Sunita Agarwal, as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
Justice Agrawal was appointed to the Allahabad High Court as an additional judge in November 2011 and was elevated to the position of permanent judge in 2013. In April 2028, if not elevated to the Supreme Court, Justice Agrawal will retire.
Justice Ashish Desai, who is presently the Acting Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court by the government.
In November 2011, Justice Desai was appointed an additional judge of the Gujarat High Court, and in 2013, he was made a permanent judge.
The government also announced the transfer of Chhattisgarh High Court judge Justice P Sam Koshy to the Telangana High Court.
In a resolution dated July 6, the Supreme Court Collegium presided over by Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud stated that Justice Koshy had requested to be transferred out of Chhattisgarh.
