Supreme Court Collegium Clears Two Judicial Officers for Elevation to Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, has approved the elevation of two judicial officers as Judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The decision was taken in a Collegium meeting held on December 16, 2025 and reflects ongoing judicial efforts to strengthen the High Court’s bench.

Under the resolution, the following officers have been cleared for appointment as High Court Judges:

• Shri Ramesh Chander Dimri

• Ms. Neerja Kulwant Kalson

The proposal was reportedly initiated by the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, in consultation with the two senior-most judges of that court, in accordance with the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) governing judicial appointments.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has faced persistent vacancies, currently functioning with a strength significantly below its sanctioned limit of 85 judges, which has impacted judicial efficiency and timely justice delivery in the region.

Once recommended by the Collegium, the names will be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Law & Justice for further processing, including background checks and formal clearances. After that, the President of India will issue the warrants of appointment, following which the officers will assume office as Judges of the High Court.

This development underscores the judiciary’s continuing efforts to fill critical vacancies and uphold the independence and effectiveness of the courts through timely elevation of qualified judicial officers.