The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Justice Bhati is currently a judge of the Rajasthan High Court. The decision to recommend his name for Chief Justice was taken by the collegium in a meeting held on August 31.

If the Centre confirms the collegium's recommendation, Justice Bhati will take over as Chief Justice from Justice Sanjeev Kumar who has been serving as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh since June 2, 2026.

Justice Bhati was a lawyer practicing across several areas of law for nearly 25 before he was elevated to the Bench of the Rajasthan High Court on November 16, 2016.

As a lawyer, he served as a Additional Advocate General for the State and was elected as President of the High Court Lawyers Association at different points

Justice Bhati's wife, Justice Nupur Bhati was also elevated as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court in 2023.