Supreme Court Collegium Shifts Focus to Filling Four Judicial Vacancies

Gist The Union government has notified the appointment of regular Chief Justices to eight High Courts, ensuring that all 25 High Courts in India are now headed by full-time chiefs rather than acting ones. With the High Court leadership stabilized, the Supreme Court Collegium is shifting its focus to filling four existing vacancies in the apex court. Aspirants must track this development as it highlights the practical working of the Collegium system, the strict seniority convention dictating the Chief Justice of India's succession, and the ongoing debate around gender representation in the higher judiciary. Background The appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts is governed by Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution, operating practically through the judicially created Collegium system . The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India CJI and comprising the four senior-most judges, makes binding recommendations for higher judiciary appointments to the Union government. The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was recently raised by the Supreme Court Number of Judges Amendment Ordinance, 2026 as cited in the source text…