SC collegium recommends Justice Soumen Sen as next Chief Justice of Kerala High Court

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Soumen Sen, currently Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, to serve as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. The decision was taken at the Collegium meeting on December 18, 2025, in anticipation of a vacancy. The post will fall vacant following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar, on January 9, 2026.

Background

Justice Soumen Sen, born in 1965 in Kolkata, is a Calcutta University law graduate enrolled as an advocate in 1991. He practised in civil, constitutional and arbitration matters before becoming a Calcutta High Court judge in 2011 and Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court in October 2025.

The recommendation now awaits approval from the Central Government.

SC collegium recommends elevation of 5 judges

The Supreme Court collegium on Thursday recommended to the Centre elevation of five judges as chief justices of different high courts across the country.

The collegium headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant took the decision in a meeting held during the day.

Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta of Allahabad High Court has been elevated to Uttarakhand after retirement of the incumbent chief justice on January 9.

Justice Revati P Mohite Dere of Bombay High Court has been recommended to Meghalaya while Justice MS Sonak of Bombay has been elevated to Jharkhand High Court after retirement of the incumbent chief justice on January 8.

Justice A Muhamed Mustaque of Kerala High Court has been elevated to Sikkim and Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo from Orissa to Patna High Court as chief justice.

In another decision, the collegium recommended the transfer of Justice Soumen Sen, Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court as chief justice of Kerala High Court after retirement of the incumbent chief justice on January 9. (With inputs from Agencies)