The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has recommended the elevation of Calcutta High Court judge Justice Joymalya Bagchi to the Supreme Court. If approved by the Centre, Justice Bagchi is set to serve for more than six years in the apex court, eventually assuming the position of Chief Justice of India (CJI) upon Justice K V Viswanathan’s retirement in 2031.
The Collegium, which includes Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, Abhay S Oka, and Vikram Nath, noted that the Calcutta High Court currently has only one representation in the Supreme Court. The last Chief Justice of India from the Calcutta High Court was Justice Altamas Kabir, who retired in 2013. Justice Bagchi’s appointment would restore the high court’s presence in the top judiciary.
Born on October 3, 1966, Justice Bagchi was appointed a judge of the Calcutta High Court in 2011. He briefly served in the Andhra Pradesh High Court before being repatriated to Calcutta in 2021. With over 13 years of judicial experience, he has handled cases across diverse fields of law.
The Collegium also recommended the appointment of Justice Harish Tandon as the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, filling the vacancy left by Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh’s retirement in January 2025.
