President Droupadi Murmu has appointed 14 judicial officers as Judges and Additional Judges across four High Courts in India. The announcement came on September 19, 2026, through a notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice.
These appointments cover the Delhi High Court, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, the Jharkhand High Court, and the Karnataka High Court. The President made these appointments using powers granted under the Constitution of India, and only after consulting the Chief Justice of India.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Appointments | 14 judicial officers |
| Appointed By | President Droupadi Murmu |
| Announced On | September 19, 2026 |
| Announcing Body | Ministry of Law and Justice |
| High Courts Covered | Delhi, J&K and Ladakh, Jharkhand, Karnataka |
| Legal Basis | Constitution of India, after CJI consultation |
Delhi High Court: 7 New Appointments
The Delhi High Court received the largest share of new appointments, with seven judicial officers elevated in total.
Appointed as Judges:
- Nivedita Anil Sharma
- Nisha Sahay Saxena
Appointed as Additional Judges:
- Sanjay Sharma
- Bharat Parashar
- Dr Aditi Choudhary
- Dinesh Bhatt
- Arun Bhardwaj
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court: 1 New Judge
Yash Paul Bourney has been appointed as a Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. This appointment brings fresh judicial strength to the Union Territory’s top court.
Jharkhand High Court: 3 New Judges
Three judicial officers have been elevated as Judges of the Jharkhand High Court:
- Manoj Prasad
- Akhil Kumar
- Ram Sharma
Karnataka High Court: 3 New Additional Judges
Three judicial officers have been appointed as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court:
- Usharani
- K.S. Bharath Kumar
- Nerale V. Bhavani
Appointment Breakdown at a Glance
| High Court | Judges Appointed | Additional Judges Appointed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi High Court | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| J&K and Ladakh High Court | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jharkhand High Court | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Karnataka High Court | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 6 | 8 | 14 |
How High Court Judges Are Appointed in India
Judicial appointments to High Courts follow a defined constitutional process. Here’s how it typically works:
- The Supreme Court Collegium recommends names of judicial officers or advocates for elevation
- The recommendation goes to the Union Law Ministry for review
- The President consults the Chief Justice of India before finalising the list
- The President then issues a formal notification appointing the judges under constitutional powers
- The Ministry of Law and Justice publishes the notification, and the new judges take oath at their respective High Courts
This latest batch of 14 appointments followed the same process, strengthening judicial capacity across four High Courts at once.
Why This Matters
High Courts across India often function with fewer judges than their sanctioned strength, leading to case backlogs. New appointments like these help:
- Reduce pending case loads in busy High Courts like Delhi
- Strengthen smaller High Courts such as J&K and Ladakh
- Support timely justice delivery for litigants
- Fill long-standing vacancies flagged by the judiciary
Frequently Asked Questions
How many judicial officers has the President appointed?
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed 14 judicial officers as Judges and Additional Judges across four High Courts.
Which High Courts received new judges?
The Delhi High Court, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, the Jharkhand High Court, and the Karnataka High Court all received new appointments.
How many judges were appointed to the Delhi High Court?
Seven judicial officers were appointed to the Delhi High Court — two as Judges (Nivedita Anil Sharma and Nisha Sahay Saxena) and five as Additional Judges (Sanjay Sharma, Bharat Parashar, Dr Aditi Choudhary, Dinesh Bhatt, and Arun Bhardwaj).
Who was appointed to the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court?
Yash Paul Bourney was appointed as a Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
Who were appointed as judges of the Jharkhand High Court?
Manoj Prasad, Akhil Kumar, and Ram Sharma were appointed as Judges of the Jharkhand High Court.
Who were appointed as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court?
Usharani, K.S. Bharath Kumar, and Nerale V. Bhavani were appointed as Additional Judges of the Karnataka High Court.
Under what authority were these appointments made?
The appointments were made by the President in exercise of powers under the Constitution of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
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