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 apex court, superseding Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia.
An official told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that 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 cleared for appointment as Supreme Court judges,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Justice Palli, who took oath as Chief Justice of the J&K and Ladakh High Court in April 2025, was earlier elevated from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The official further informed KNS that the Collegium’s decision assumes significance as Justice Palli has been preferred over Justice Sandhawalia despite both tracing their parent High Court to Punjab and Haryana.
With Justice Palli’s proposed elevation, the representation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the Supreme Court is set to increase further. At present, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice A.G. Masih also hail from the same High Court, the official added.
Apart from Justice Palli, the Collegium has also recommended the names of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court; Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court; and senior advocate V. Mohana for appointment as Supreme Court judges, the official added. (KNS)
