Justice Vivek Rusia appointed Acting Chief Justice of MP High Court
Synopsis
With Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva elevated to the Supreme Court as part of a five-judge batch, the Madhya Pradesh High Court gets its third leadership change in recent memory. Justice Vivek Rusia, a permanent judge since 2018, now holds the acting charge — a direct consequence of the Centre's decision to expand Supreme Court strength from 33 to 37, triggering a cascade of High Court reshuffles nationwide.
Key Takeaways
The Centre on 1 June 2025 appointed Justice Vivek Rusia as Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court .
The vacancy arose after Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva was elevated to the Supreme Court of India .
The appointment was made under Article 223 of the Constitution by the President of India .
Four other judges — Justice Sheel Nagu , Justice Shree Chandrashekhar , Justice Arun Palli , and senior advocate V.
Mohana — were also elevated to the Supreme Court on the same day.
The Centre recently expanded the Supreme Court's sanctioned judge strength from 33 to 37 , excluding the CJI, to address case pendency.
Justice Rusia has served as a permanent judge of the MP High Court since March 2018 .
The Centre on Monday, 1 June 2025, issued an official notification appointing Justice Vivek Rusia as the Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, following the elevation of incumbent Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva to the Supreme Court of India. The appointment was made under Article 223 of the Constitution by the President of India, on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
The Official Notification
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice issued a formal notification stating: 'In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Vivek Rusia, Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh consequent upon appointment of Shri Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India.'
Article 223 empowers the President to designate any puisne judge as Acting Chief Justice when the office of the Chief Justice of a High Court falls vacant or when the incumbent is unable to discharge official duties.
Five New Supreme Court Judges Cleared
Earlier on the same day, the Centre cleared the simultaneous elevation of four High Court Chief Justices and senior advocate V. Mohana as judges of the Supreme Court. Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a post on X, confirmed that the President — after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) — had approved the appointments of Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and senior advocate V. Mohana as Supreme Court judges.
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended these elevations at its meetings held on 22 May and 27 May.
Justice Sachdeva's Tenure at MP High Court
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, whose parent High Court is the Delhi High Court, had taken oath as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in July 2025. His elevation to the apex court marks a relatively short but significant stint at the helm of the MP judiciary. Notably, this is part of a broader judicial reshuffle triggered by the Centre's recent decision to raise the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the CJI — a move aimed at reducing case pendency and accelerating disposal.
Justice Rusia's Background
Justice Vivek Rusia was first appointed as an Additional Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2016 and was elevated to a permanent judgeship in March 2018. His appointment as Acting Chief Justice places him at the head of one of India's larger High Courts as the institution awaits a regular appointment.
What Happens Next
Justice Rusia will discharge the duties of the Chief Justice until a permanent appointment is made by the President in consultation with the CJI and the Collegium. With the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength now expanded to 37 judges (excluding the CJI), further High Court reshuffles across the country are likely in the coming weeks.
Point of View
But it points to a deeper structural shift: the Centre's expansion of Supreme Court strength to 37 judges is now visibly cascading through the High Courts, creating a chain of vacancies and interim arrangements. The MP High Court, one of India's more burdened benches by pendency, deserves a permanent Chief Justice appointment without delay — acting arrangements, however competent, are not a substitute for institutional stability. The speed at which five judges were cleared simultaneously also raises a question that mainstream coverage rarely asks: whether the Collegium-Centre pipeline is moving fast enough to keep pace with the expanded bench strength, or whether the new seats will sit vacant while the process lags.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Justice Vivek Rusia appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court?
Justice Vivek Rusia was appointed Acting Chief Justice because the incumbent, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 1 June 2025. Under Article 223 of the Constitution, the President appoints a puisne judge to discharge the duties of the Chief Justice when the office falls vacant.
Who is Justice Vivek Rusia?
Justice Vivek Rusia is a permanent judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, first appointed as an Additional Judge in April 2016 and elevated to a permanent judgeship in March 2018. He now holds acting charge as Chief Justice pending a regular appointment.
Who are the five new Supreme Court judges appointed on 1 June 2025?
The five newly appointed Supreme Court judges are Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and senior advocate V. Mohana. Their appointments were confirmed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, based on Collegium recommendations from 22 and 27 May.
What is Article 223 of the Constitution?
Article 223 empowers the President of India to appoint any puisne judge of a High Court as Acting Chief Justice when the office of the Chief Justice is vacant or when the Chief Justice is unable to perform official duties. It is the constitutional basis for Justice Rusia's current appointment.
Why did the Centre expand the Supreme Court's judge strength?
The Centre recently raised the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, with the stated aim of reducing case pendency and expediting disposal of matters. This expansion directly triggered the batch elevation of five judges, including Justice Sachdeva, creating the vacancy at the MP High Court.
