The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 14 April 2026, approved the appointment of five new judges to two High Courts — three judicial officers elevated to the Karnataka High Court and two women advocates appointed to the Kerala High Court. The resolutions were published on the Supreme Court's website the same day.
Background
Both the Karnataka and Kerala High Courts have been functioning below their sanctioned strength for several months. The Collegium's latest recommendations form part of a broader effort to address judicial vacancies across High Courts, which collectively had over 400 vacancies as of March 2026 according to Department of Justice data.
The appointment process under the Collegium system, established through the Second Judges Case (1993) and Third Judges Case (1998), involves the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most Supreme Court judges recommending candidates under Article 217 of the Constitution. The government may return a recommendation once for reconsideration, but is bound by the Collegium's reiterated recommendation.
Appointments
Karnataka High Court — Three judicial officers elevated:
- Smt. Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde — Judicial officer from the Karnataka Higher Judicial Service
- Smt. Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi — Judicial officer from the Karnataka Higher Judicial Service
- Shri Mahadevappa Brungesh — Judicial officer from the Karnataka Higher Judicial Service
Kerala High Court — Two women advocates appointed:
The Collegium approved the appointment of two women advocates as judges of the Kerala High Court. The specific names were published in the Collegium resolution on the Supreme Court's website.
Implications for Practitioners
The appointment of two women judicial officers to the Karnataka High Court and two women advocates to the Kerala High Court is notable for gender representation on the bench. Women constitute approximately 13 percent of sitting High Court judges nationally, and appointments such as these incrementally address the imbalance.
For litigants and practitioners before the Karnataka and Kerala High Courts, the new appointments should help reduce pendency timelines as these courts move closer to sanctioned strength. Practitioners should monitor gazette notifications for the formal appointment dates, which typically follow within 4-8 weeks of Collegium approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the newly appointed Karnataka High Court judges?
The Collegium approved elevation of three judicial officers: Smt. Rajeshwari Narayana Hegde, Smt. Kedambadi Ganesh Shanthi, and Shri Mahadevappa Brungesh — all from the Karnataka Higher Judicial Service. Two of the three appointees are women.
When will these judges formally take oath?
Collegium recommendations are forwarded to the government for formal notification under Article 217. The process typically takes 4-8 weeks from Collegium approval to gazette notification and oath-taking, though the timeline can vary depending on government processing.