The Supreme Court Collegium met on February 26, 2026 and made key recommendations for two Chief Justice appointments.
It recommended Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, a judge of the Kerala High Court (parent High Court: Madhya Pradesh High Court), as the next Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. The move comes ahead of the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on March 5, 2026.
In the same meeting, the Collegium also recommended the transfer of Justice Lisa Gill, currently a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. It proposed her appointment as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Her elevation will take effect from the date the vacancy arises.
The Collegium said it has adopted a policy to improve judicial administration. Under this approach, it may transfer a judge identified for appointment as Chief Justice in advance, preferably about two months before the expected vacancy. The Collegium aims to give the judge time to understand the High Court’s functioning, procedures, and administrative structure before taking charge.
Following this policy, the Collegium recommended Justice Gill’s transfer to Andhra Pradesh ahead of her proposed elevation. It also recommended Justice Dharmadhikari’s appointment in view of the upcoming vacancy in the Madras High Court.
