Articles 217 & 222

• In exercise of the power conferred under Article 217(1) of the Constitution, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Chief Justices to two High Courts on January 2.

• Also, Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen is transferred to be the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. 

• In case of initial appointment of a Chief Justice of a High Court, the provisions of Article 217 will have to be followed. 

• Transfer of a judge from one High Court to another will be governed by the provision of Article 222. 

Jharkhand High Court

• Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

• Justice Sonak will assume charge after incumbent Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan demits office on January 8 on attaining the age of 62 years.

• A Bombay High Court judge currently, Justice Sonak’s name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium in December 2025.

• While Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65 years, High Court judges demit office at the age of 62.

Patna High Court

• Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo was appointed as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.

• Sahoo is a judge of the Orissa High Court.

Kerala High Court

• In exercise of the power conferred by Article 222(1) of the Constitution of India, the President transferred Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen to be the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, consequent upon the retirement of Nitin Madhukar Jamdar on January 9.

Appointment of HC judges

• The High Court stands at the head of a state’s judicial administration.

• Article 214 of the Indian Constitution provides for a High Court for each state. The Seventh Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 authorised the Parliament under Article 231 to establish a common High Court for two or more states and a Union Territory. 

• Articles 214 to 231 of the Constitution deals with the organisation, independence, jurisdiction, powers, procedures and other issues related to the High Courts.

• The Chief Justice and judges of the High Courts are appointed by the President under Article 217(1) of the Constitution.

• To be eligible for appointment as a HC judge one must be a citizen of India, have held a judicial office in India for 10 years or must have practised as an advocate of a High Court or two or more such courts in succession for a similar period.