In a significant move aimed at enhancing judicial efficiency and addressing regional case backlogs, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, has recommended the transfer of 21 High Court judges across various states in India.
The decision, finalised during a meeting on May 26, 2025, includes notable reassignments such as Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak’s transfer from the Gauhati High Court to the Orissa High Court, marking a major reshuffle in the Indian judiciary.
The Collegium’s recommendations, detailed in a statement released on May 27, span multiple High Courts, reflecting a strategic effort to balance judicial workloads and bring specialised expertise to different regions. Justice Pathak, who has served as a permanent judge at the Gauhati High Court since 2022, brings a wealth of experience in civil and constitutional matters. His prior role as Additional Advocate General in Nagaland and his contributions to landmark cases in the Northeast make him a significant addition to the Orissa High Court, which has been grappling with a backlog of cases.
Other notable transfers include Justice Sanjay Paul from the Calcutta High Court to the Karnataka High Court, Justice V. Kameswar Rao from the Delhi High Court to the Karnataka High Court, and Justice Suman Shyam from the Gauhati High Court to the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The list also features judges moving to High Courts in Bombay, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, among others, showcasing a nationwide effort to optimise judicial resources.
The Supreme Court Collegium’s decision comes at a time when India’s judicial system is under scrutiny for its massive backlog, over 50 million pending cases as reported by the National Judicial Data Grid in 2024. Experts suggest that such transfers are part of a broader strategy to ensure the efficient functioning of High Courts by leveraging judges’ expertise in specific legal domains.
The Supreme Court’s statement also included transfers of judges like Justice Sudhir Singh from the Punjab & Haryana High Court to the Patna High Court and Justice Arup Kumar Mangotra from the Rajasthan High Court to the Delhi High Court, indicating a focus on cross-regional expertise sharing. For instance, Justice Nitin W. Sambre’s move from the Bombay High Court to the Delhi High Court is seen as an effort to bolster the capital’s judiciary with his extensive experience in commercial litigation.
