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India appoints new Chief Justices to eight High Courts
The Indian Union Government has appointed new Chief Justices to eight High Courts, ensuring that all 25 High Courts in the country now have permanent leadership. The appointments, recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, include Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati for the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
In Rajasthan, Justice Agrawal’s appointment follows a period of controversy involving Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who faced allegations of administrative misconduct and corruption raised by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta. Justice Agrawal was sworn in on September 7, 2026, in Jaipur.
Simultaneously, a political dispute has emerged in Punjab. The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, passed a resolution objecting to the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The state government alleges the Centre bypassed constitutional norms and the Memorandum of Procedure by failing to consult the state government before notifying the appointment. Despite these objections, Justice Mishra was sworn in on September 7, 2026, in Chandigarh.
Entities
Ashwani Kumar Mishra · Bhagwant Singh Mann · Chhattisgarh High Court · Government of India · Pushpendra Singh Bhati · Rajasthan High Court · Sandeep Mehta · Sanjay Kumar Agrawal · Sanjeev Prakash Sharma · Supreme Court Collegium · Supreme Court of India
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] With the new appointments, all 25 High Courts in India will now have permanent Chief Justices. www.livelaw.in
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Union Government appointed new Chief Justices for eight High Courts, including Patna, Calcutta, Rajasthan, Bombay, Punjab and Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. theleaflet.in · news.abplive.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on September 7, 2026. yespunjab.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Supreme Court Collegium made the recommendations for the new Chief Justices on August 6, 2026. theleaflet.in · yespunjab.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. theleaflet.in · news.abplive.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta raised allegations of corruption and administrative misuse against Rajasthan's Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. theleaflet.in · pragativadi.com · www.siasat.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on September 7, 2026. bhaskarlive.in · www.siasat.com · www.news18.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Punjab Cabinet passed a resolution objecting to the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging the Centre bypassed state views. www.dnpindia.in · english.mathrubhumi.com