New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of three judges as Chief Justices of the Rajasthan High Court, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The recommendations were made at a Collegium meeting held on August 31, 2026, with Justice Sanjay K Agrawalrecommended as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati for the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje for the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The recommendations come amid developments in the Rajasthan High Court, where Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has opted out of hearing cases following protests by lawyers.
Justice Sanjay K Agrawal Recommended as Rajasthan HC Chief Justice
The Collegium has recommended Justice Sanjay K Agrawal for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
Justice Agrawal is currently serving as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.
His recommendation comes at a time when the Rajasthan High Court has been witnessing controversy surrounding the functioning of its Acting Chief Justice.
Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who is currently serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, has decided to opt himself out of hearing cases following protests against him by lawyers.
Against this backdrop, the Collegium’s recommendation of Justice Agrawal assumes significance as the Rajasthan High Court is set to have a new permanent Chief Justice.
Read also: Who Is Justice Sanjay K Agrawal? Collegium Recommends Him As Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice
Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati for J&K and Ladakh High Court
The Collegium has recommended Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice Bhati is currently a judge of the Rajasthan High Court.
His elevation will see him move from the Rajasthan High Court to head the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The appointment will place him at the helm of a High Court exercising jurisdiction over the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje Recommended for Madhya Pradesh HC
The third recommendation is Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje, who has been recommended as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Justice Kogje is currently serving as a judge of the Gujarat High Court.
His proposed elevation will see him move from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh to head the state’s High Court.
Three Judges From Three High Courts
The Collegium’s recommendations involve judges currently serving in three different High Courts.
The recommendations are:
- Justice Sanjay K Agrawal — Currently a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court; recommended as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
- Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati — Currently a judge of the Rajasthan High Court; recommended as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje — Currently a judge of the Gujarat High Court; recommended as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Rajasthan High Court Recommendation Amid Lawyer Protests
The Rajasthan recommendation comes at a particularly significant time for the High Court.
Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma has decided not to hear cases following protests by lawyers.
The development had created an unusual situation at the High Court, making the appointment of a permanent Chief Justice particularly important for the institution’s functioning.
The Collegium has now recommended Justice Sanjay K Agrawal, currently of the Chhattisgarh High Court, for the top judicial post in Rajasthan.
Who Are the Three Recommended Chief Justices?
Justice Sanjay K Agrawal
- Current Court: Chhattisgarh High Court
- Recommended Post: Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court
Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati
- Current Court: Rajasthan High Court
- Recommended Post: Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje
- Current Court: Gujarat High Court
- Recommended Post: Chief Justice, Madhya Pradesh High Court
Collegium’s August 31 Decision
The recommendations were made during a meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium on August 31, 2026.
The Collegium’s recommendations will now move through the established process for appointment of Chief Justices of High Courts.
If approved, the three High Courts will get permanent Chief Justices through the recommended appointments.
The latest recommendations are therefore significant for the judicial administration of Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and Madhya Pradesh, while the Rajasthan recommendation also comes against the backdrop of the ongoing controversy involving its Acting Chief Justice.
Key Takeaways
- 3 High Courts have received recommendations for permanent Chief Justices.
- Justice Sanjay K Agrawal has been recommended for the Rajasthan High Court.
- Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati has been recommended for the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Justice Alpesh Yeshvant Kogje has been recommended for the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
- The recommendations were made by the Supreme Court Collegium on August 31, 2026.
- Justice Agrawal is currently a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.
- Justice Bhati is currently a judge of the Rajasthan High Court.
- Justice Kogje is currently serving at the Gujarat High Court.
- The Rajasthan recommendation comes amid protests by lawyers against Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, who has opted out of hearing cases.
Read also: Who Is Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra? Collegium Recommends Him As Next Chhattisgarh HC Chief Justice
