Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Justice Lisa Gill as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court
In a significant development, the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Lisa Gill as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The decision marks an important transition in the leadership of the High Court and follows the Collegium’s newly introduced transfer policy.
The resolution was passed at a meeting of the Collegium held on February 26. It recommends the transfer of Justice Gill from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. She will eventually assume office as Chief Justice once the vacancy arises.
As per the resolution, Justice Gill will first be appointed as a puisne judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. She is expected to take over as Chief Justice on April 25, following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur.
This advance transfer aligns with the Collegium’s recently announced policy. Under the new approach, a judge who is proposed to become a Chief Justice may be transferred nearly two months before the vacancy occurs. The purpose is to allow the incoming Chief Justice to understand the court’s functioning and administrative processes in advance.
The policy aims to ensure smoother transitions in judicial administration. By spending time in the High Court before formally assuming charge, the judge can become familiar with ongoing matters, administrative systems, and institutional priorities. This is expected to promote continuity and stability.
Justice Lisa Gill brings over three decades of legal experience. She completed her B.A. LL.B. and LL.M. from the Department of Laws, Panjab University. She enrolled as an advocate in 1990 and began her legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
During her years at the Bar, she handled a wide range of cases, including criminal, civil, service, revenue, and constitutional matters. She also represented the Union Territory of Chandigarh for several years, along with various Boards and Corporations.
Her judicial career began on March 31, 2014, when she was appointed as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Over the years, she has been part of several important benches and has dealt with diverse areas of law.
Her proposed elevation as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reflects both seniority and administrative considerations. The Collegium’s move also signals a continued effort to streamline leadership changes within the higher judiciary.
Once the formal notification is issued and she assumes office, Justice Gill will become the head of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Her tenure is expected to begin after April 25, following the retirement of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur.
The recommendation now awaits the usual process of approval and notification before it takes effect.
