* Present/Future CJIs ** 2023/2024 Retirement

For benefit of words to follow, let us assume Collegium Resolutions of 2nd and 6th November, 2023 shall meet no objection. If that be so, High Courts of P&H (Acting CJ Ritu Bahri J transferred to Uttarakhand HC), Gauhati (CJ S. Mehta J elevated to SC), Rajasthan (CJ A.G. Masih J elevated to SC) and Delhi (CJ S.C. Sharma J elevated to SC) are to have Acting CJs, for howsoever little time, whereas High Courts of Madras and Patna face no such conundrum as S. Vaidyanathan J (transferred from Madras HC to Meghalaya HC) and C.S. Singh J (transferred from Patna HC to Orissa HC) were not CJs.

After counting so-to-be Acting CJs and Present CJs of 25 HCs, it appears, only CJ of HP HC (M.S. Ratna J, 07.08.1966) is younger than K.V. Viswanathan J (Future CJI No. 58, 26.05.1966) and if elevated to SC can be CJI No. 59. CJ of Gujarat HC (Sunita Agarwal J, 30.04.1966) misses by a few days. Considering CJI Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud is to have 34 SC Judges, he is destined to elevate 4 more Judges, as 4 SC Judges retire before him. M.S. Ratna J, CJ of HP HC has a chance. His Father, M. Jagannadha Rao J, was a Former Judge of SC.

What if we count too those who are Senior-Most in our 25 HCs after its so-to-be Acting CJs or Present CJs? Well, following Js, if elevated to SC, can be CJI No. 59:  Joymalya Bagchi J (Calcutta, 03.10.1966), R.V. Ghuge J (Bombay, 09.07.1966), M. Sundar J (Madras, 19.07.1966), M.C. Tripathi J (Allahabad, 21.06.1966), R. Devdas (Karnataka, 15.05.1969),  A. Kumar J (Patna, 01.10.1966), Sindhu Sharma J (J&K, 10.10.1972), S.A. Dharmadhikari J (MP, 08.07.1966), Lisa Gill J (P&H, 17.11.1966), S. Shyam J (Gauhati, 12.06.1969), B.C. Routray J (Orissa, 01.02.1970), A. Bhansali J (Rajasthan, 15.10.1967), A.M. Mustaque J (Kerala, 01.06.1967), A.Y. Kogje J (Gujarat, 16.07.1969), Vibhu Bakhru J (Delhi, 02.11.1966), A.M. Goel J (HP, 10.01.1969), B.R. Pradhan J (Sikkim, 19.10.1966), P.P. Sahu J (Chhattisgarh, 19.04.1971), P. Purohit J (Uttarakhand, 28.07.1968), S.N. Prasad J (Jharkhand, 20.06.1967), H.S. Thangkhiew J (Meghalaya, 24.12.1966), A.G. Sharma J (Manipur, 01.03.1967), R.N. Tilhari J (AP, 09.02.1969) and P.S. Koshy J (Telengana, 30.04.1967).

Interesting it is to note, Sindhu Sharma J is our First Woman Judge of J&K HC. Also, Retired Justice Harphul Singh Brar J of P&H HC is Lisa Gill J’s Father and Retired Justice Amrit Lal Bahri J of P&H HC is CJ Ritu Bahri J’s Father.

It may be, none amongst those indicated above shall be CJI No. 59. 10.11.2029 morning, when it has been an exact 5 years since CJI Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud J’s retirement, specifically 3 (keeping aside J.B. Pardiwala J), elevated to SC under his CJIship, shall still be at SC. This much is clear, a 4th, CJI No. 59, is sure to come very soon.

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For benefit of words to follow, let us assume Collegium Resolutions of 11th July, 2024 shall meet no objection. It appears, only CJ of Allahabad HC (A. Bhansali J, 15.10.1967) and CJ of Jharkhand HC (M.S. Ratna J, 07.08.1966) are younger than K.V. Viswanathan J (Future CJI No. 58, 26.05.1966) and if elevated to SC can be CJI No. 59.

– 14.07.2024.

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Collegium Resolutions of 11th July, 2024 stood revised.
– 28.09.2024.