Bilaspur : In a significant development concerning the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal, presently a Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
The recommendation was made at the meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium held on August 31, 2026. In a separate resolution issued on the same date, the Collegium also recommended the transfer of Justice Agrawal from the Chhattisgarh High Court to the Rajasthan High Court.
Who is Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal?
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal has had a long legal and judicial career spanning more than three decades. He was born on July 15, 1965, at Ratanpur in the Bilaspur region of Chhattisgarh, to Mr. Virendra Agrawal and Mrs. Chameli Agrawal.
He completed his schooling at Ratanpur and subsequently pursued higher education in law and science. He obtained his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, and later completed his Master of Laws from Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.
His academic background, followed by extensive experience in litigation and public law, laid the foundation for his career in the legal profession.
Enrolled as Advocate in 1989
Justice Agrawal was enrolled as an Advocate on January 3, 1989. During his legal career, he practiced before the District and Sessions Court at Bilaspur, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur, and subsequently the High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur.
His practice covered several branches of law, with particular experience in civil law and constitutional law.
Over the years, he appeared for a wide range of government institutions, public sector undertakings, statutory authorities, banks, corporations and prominent organisations.
His professional assignments included representation of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission, Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Bar Council of India, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Steel Authority of India Limited, among several other institutions.
He also represented major banking institutions including State Bank of India, Canara Bank and Dena Bank, apart from Municipal Corporations at Raipur and Bilaspur and various corporations, boards and authorities of the Government of Chhattisgarh.
Experience in Constitutional and Civil Law
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal’s legal career was particularly associated with civil and constitutional matters. His experience representing government bodies and public institutions provided him with extensive exposure to issues involving statutory interpretation, administrative decisions, constitutional provisions and public law.
His practice before different levels of courts also gave him substantial experience in litigation involving government departments, public authorities, corporations and other institutional clients.
This broad professional background preceded his elevation to the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
Served as Advocate General of Chhattisgarh
One of the important milestones in Justice Agrawal’s professional career was his service as a law officer for the State of Chhattisgarh.
He served as Deputy Advocate General for the State of Chhattisgarh from March 1, 2002 to February 29, 2004.
He later returned to the State’s top law office and served as Advocate General for the State of Chhattisgarh from June 25, 2012 until his elevation to the High Court.
His tenure as Advocate General placed him at the centre of the State’s constitutional and legal affairs and involved representation of the State Government before the High Court.
Association with Legal Education and Judicial Institutions
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal has also been associated with various legal and judicial institutions.
He served as an Ex-Officio Member of the Executive Council of Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur.
He was also associated with the Indian Law Reports Committee (Chhattisgarh Series) as a member and served as a member of the Editorial Board of Chhattisgarh Law Judgments.
These assignments reflected his involvement not only in litigation and judicial work but also in legal education, law reporting and the development of legal scholarship in the State.
Experience as Mediator
Before his elevation to the Bench, Justice Agrawal was also associated with alternative dispute resolution. He served as a mediator under the Chhattisgarh C.P.C. Alternative Disputes Resolution and Mediation Rules, 2006.
His experience in mediation added another dimension to his legal career, particularly in the resolution of civil disputes through mechanisms outside conventional litigation.
Elevated to Chhattisgarh High Court in 2013
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on September 16, 2013.
After serving as an Additional Judge, he was appointed as a Permanent Judge on March 8, 2016.
Since then, he has been part of the Chhattisgarh High Court judiciary, dealing with a wide range of legal and constitutional issues.
The latest Collegium recommendation now places him on the path to becoming Chief Justice of another major High Court.
Transfer from Chhattisgarh High Court to Rajasthan High Court
The Supreme Court Collegium has made a separate recommendation for the transfer of Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal from the High Court of Chhattisgarh to the Rajasthan High Court.
The official resolution dated August 31, 2026 specifically states that the Collegium recommended his transfer to the Rajasthan High Court.
A separate Collegium resolution issued on the same date recommends his elevation as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
The sequence is therefore significant: Justice Agrawal has been recommended for transfer to Rajasthan and, separately, for appointment as the Chief Justice of that High Court.
A Significant Moment for Chhattisgarh’s Legal Community
The recommendation has particular significance for the legal fraternity of Chhattisgarh because Justice Agrawal has spent a substantial part of his professional and judicial career in the State.
From beginning his legal practice in Bilaspur to serving as Deputy Advocate General and later Advocate General of Chhattisgarh, his career has been closely connected with the State’s legal system.
His elevation to the High Court Bench in 2013 marked another major stage of that journey. More than a decade after becoming a High Court Judge, the recommendation for appointment as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court represents another important milestone in his judicial career.
Rajasthan High Court to Get New Chief Justice
The recommendation comes at a significant time for the Rajasthan High Court, which is among the country’s major High Courts.
The Supreme Court Collegium’s August 31 resolution recommends Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court.
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal: Key Career Timeline
July 15, 1965: Born at Ratanpur in the Bilaspur region of Chhattisgarh.
Education: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws from Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur; Master of Laws from Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.
January 3, 1989: Enrolled as an Advocate.
2002-2004: Served as Deputy Advocate General for the State of Chhattisgarh.
June 25, 2012: Appointed Advocate General for the State of Chhattisgarh.
September 16, 2013: Elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
March 8, 2016: Took oath as Permanent Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh.
August 31, 2026: Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer to the Rajasthan High Court.
August 31, 2026: Supreme Court Collegium recommended his appointment as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
A Distinguished Journey from Ratanpur to High Court Leadership
Justice Sanjay K. Agrawal’s career represents a long progression through different stages of the legal profession. Beginning as an advocate in 1989, he gained experience in trial courts and High Courts before serving as Deputy Advocate General and later Advocate General of Chhattisgarh.
His elevation to the High Court Bench in 2013 and appointment as a Permanent Judge in 2016 further expanded his judicial career.
For Chhattisgarh’s legal community, the development is notable not only because of the proposed transfer of a senior judge, but also because Justice Agrawal’s professional journey has been deeply connected with Bilaspur, Raipur and the wider legal and judicial institutions of the State. The development also assumes significance as Justice Agrawal is proposed to be elevated as the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
