Full Breakdown
Acting Chief Justices Appointed in Telangana and Delhi High Courts
By Drooid · · How we work
Recent Appointments
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification on Monday appointing Justice Puthichira Sam Koshy as Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court after Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh vacated the post to become a judge of the Supreme Court. Similarly, on October 5, Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre was named Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court following the elevation of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya to the Supreme Court. Both appointments were made by the President of India under the authority granted by Article 223 of the Constitution.
Legal Framework and Process
Article 223 empowers the President, on the advice of the Union government, to designate a senior judge of a High Court as Acting Chief Justice when the incumbent’s office becomes vacant. The notifications cited the constitutional provision and confirmed that the acting judges will assume full judicial and administrative responsibilities until a permanent chief justice is appointed.
Career Backgrounds of the New Acting Chief Justices
- Justice P. S. Koshy – Initially appointed as an additional judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court in September 2013, he became a permanent judge in March 2016 and was transferred to the Telangana High Court in 2023. His seniority made him the logical interim head after Justice Singh’s elevation.
- Justice N. W. Sambre – Born in Nagpur on December 19, 1967, he earned a B.Com from Shivaji Science College and an LL.B. from University College of Law, Nagpur, in 1992. After enrolling as an advocate on August 25, 1992, he served as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor from September 1, 2007. He was elevated to the Bombay High Court as an additional judge on January 6, 2014, became permanent on March 2, 2016, and transferred to the Delhi High Court on July 21, 2025.
Administrative Implications
The acting chief justices will oversee case management, judge assignments, and routine court administration during the interim period. Their appointments ensure continuity of judicial functions while the Supreme Court elevations are processed, maintaining stability in two of India’s most significant high courts.
