The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on August 18, 2026, approved the proposal to appoint four advocates as judges of the Orissa High Court. The Collegium’s resolution, made public following the meeting, named Sasmita Tripathy, Aditya Narayan Das, Rajjeet Roy, and Gautam Misra as the recommended candidates for elevation to the Bench.
The Collegium’s recommendation comes amid a significant shortfall in judicial strength at the Orissa High Court. The Court currently has 17 judges in position, while its sanctioned strength stands at 33. This leaves 16 vacancies unfilled, a gap the Collegium noted as requiring immediate attention to ensure the Court’s effective functioning.
Further contextualising the urgency, the Collegium highlighted that two judges, including the incumbent Chief Justice Harish Tandon, are due to retire later in the current year. These impending departures would exacerbate the existing vacancy position if not addressed through timely recommendations.
The Collegium’s statement, referenced in the Bar and Bench report, confirms that the names were considered and approved after due deliberation. The advocates recommended are drawn from the Bar, reflecting the Collegium’s practice of considering eligible members of the legal profession for judicial appointment under the established collegium system.
The Orissa High Court, like several other High Courts in the country, has been operating below its sanctioned strength for an extended period. Persistent vacancies impact case listing, hearing schedules, and the disposal rate, contributing to delays in judicial proceedings. The Collegium’s move to fill four positions is intended to alleviate some of this pressure, although 12 vacancies would remain even after these appointments, assuming no further retirements or resignations.
The Collegium did not disclose the specific criteria or seniority considerations that guided the selection of the four advocates. However, the recommendation follows the standard procedure wherein the Collegium evaluates names based on merit, integrity, and suitability, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court and other senior judges, as per the Memorandum of Procedure governing judicial appointments.
Once the Collegium’s recommendation is forwarded to the Union Government, the Central government will initiate the necessary checks, including consultation with the Intelligence Bureau and verification of records, before formally notifying the appointments. The final step involves the President of India issuing warrants of appointment under Article 217 of the Constitution of India.
The Orissa High Court Bar Association and other legal stakeholders are expected to welcome the recommendation, as it addresses a long-standing demand for strengthening judicial capacity in the State. The Court serves as the apex judicial forum for Odisha, handling a substantial volume of civil, criminal, constitutional, and service matters.
No objections or reservations regarding the recommended names were mentioned in the Collegium’s statement or the reported proceedings. The Collegium’s resolution was adopted unanimously, as is customary in such recommendations unless dissent is expressly recorded.
The development marks a routine yet critical step in the judicial appointments process, reflecting the Collegium’s ongoing effort to address vacancies across the Higher Judiciary. The Orissa High Court will await the Executive’s action on the recommendation before the four advocates can assume office as judges.
Until then, the Court will continue to function with its existing strength of 17 judges, managing its docket within the constraints imposed by the vacancy position. The Collegium has indicated that further recommendations may follow depending on the evolving vacancy situation and retirements in the coming months.