New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held today, has recommended key judicial appointments, including the elevation of Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court and Justice Ashutosh Kumar as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court.
These appointments come as part of a broader reshuffle aimed at strengthening judicial leadership across the High Courts.
Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi: New Chief Justice of Patna High Court
Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, currently serving at the Patna High Court, has been appointed its Chief Justice. He replaces Justice Ashutosh Kumar, who has been transferred to head the Gauhati High Court.
Born on May 28, 1968, in Ahmedabad, Justice Pancholi holds a B.Sc. in Electronics from St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, and an LL.M. in Commercial Law from Sir L.A. Shah Law College.
He began practicing at the Gujarat High Court in September 1991, where he served as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor until March 2006. Justice Pancholi was appointed as Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court on October 1, 2014, and became a permanent judge on June 10, 2016. He was transferred to Patna High Court in July 2023.
Justice Ashutosh Kumar: Appointed Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court
Justice Ashutosh Kumar, currently the Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court, has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, which has jurisdiction over Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Born on October 1, 1966, in Patna, he is an alumnus of St. Michael’s High School, St. Stephen’s College, and Campus Law Centre, Delhi University. He enrolled as an advocate in 1991 and has practiced extensively in criminal law.
He was appointed Additional Judge of Patna High Court on May 15, 2014, served a tenure at the Delhi High Court, and returned to Patna in 2017. He was made Acting Chief Justice in January 2025.
Justice Kumar’s appointment is expected to provide experienced judicial leadership in the northeast region.
