Srinagar, May 27: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, superseding Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Both judges belong to the parent Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The recommendation was made during the Collegium meetings held on May 22 and May 27, 2026, in which five names were approved for appointment as Judges of the apex court.
Justice Arun Palli, who was elevated from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, took oath as the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in April 2025.
The Collegium’s decision has drawn attention as Justice Palli has been preferred over Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia despite both originating from the same parent High Court.
With Justice Palli’s proposed elevation, the representation of judges from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the Supreme Court is set to rise further. At present, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice A.G. Masih also hail from the same High Court.
Besides Justice Arun Palli, the Collegium has also recommended the names of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court; Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court; and senior advocate V. Mohana for appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court.
