P. Sam Koshy

Hon'ble Justice Puthichira Sam Koshy
Judge of Telangana High Court
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 July 2023
Nominated by	D. Y. Chandrachud
Appointed by	Droupadi Murmu
Acting Chief Justice
In office 18 July 2025 – 19 July 2025
Appointed by	Droupadi Murmu
Preceded by	Alok Aradhe Sujoy Paul (acting)
Succeeded by	Aparesh Kumar Singh
Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court
In office 16 Septemeber 2013 – 26 July 2023
Nominated by	P. Sathasivam
Appointed by	Pranab Mukherjee
Personal details
Born	(1967-04-30) 30 April 1967
Education	B.Com and LL.B
Alma mater	Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya

Puthichira Sam Koshy is an Indian jurist serving as a permanent Judge of the High Court for the State of Telangana. He previously served as a Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh from September 2013 to July 2023. In July 2025, he was appointed as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court for the State of Telangana by the President of India.

Justice Koshy serves as the Executive Chairman of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TGSLSA), having been nominated to the post by the Governor, State of Telangana from 27.07.2023 to 25.03.2024, and again from 01.07.2025 till present.

In December 2025, he was appointed as a Member of the Central Authority of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) by the Union Law Ministry.

In March 2026, the Chief of India, the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, in consultation with Execution Chairman, NALSA has nominated Justice Koshy as chairman of a high-level NALSA committee constituted to revisit the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS) Scheme

Early life and education

Justice Koshy was born on 30th April, 1967. He did his schoolings from St. Aloysius Senior Secondary School, Jabalpur. He completed his undergraduate studies in Commerce, earning a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) degree in 1987 from G. S. College of Commerce and Economics, Jabalpur. He pursued legal education at Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur (University of Jabalpur), Madhya Pradesh, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 1990.

Legal career

Practice at the Bar

Justice Koshy enrolled as an Advocate on 9th March, 1991. He practiced civil, constitutional, service and labour law before the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur until October, 2000. Following the bifurcation of the State and the creation of the State of Chhattisgarh, he transitioned his practice to the High Court of Chhattisgarh at Bilaspur in November, 2000 till his elevation in September, 2013.

During his practice, he had served in key state law officer roles, including Government Advocate at the High Court of Chhattisgarh (2002–2004) and Deputy Advocate General (DAG) for the State of Chhattisgarh (2005–2006). In addition, he was standing counsel and legal advisor for several statutory boards, financial institutions, and public sector undertakings (PSUs), including:

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

Coal India Ltd. (CIL) South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL)

Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd. (CMPDIL)

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)

South East Central Railway (SECR)

State Bank of India (SBI) and other nationalized banks also

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL)

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL)

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)

Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board (MPEB) & Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB).

Judicial career

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on 16th September, 2013 and was confirmed as a Permanent Judge on 8th March, 2016.

On 10th July, 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer to the High Court for the State of Telangana, noting that his appointment would enrich the composition of the said High Court. He took oath as a Judge of the High Court for the State of Telangana on 27th July 2023. He took oath as a judge of the High Court for the State of Telangana on 27 July 2023.

In July 2025, the President of India exercising the powers under Article 223 of the Constitution of India appointed Justice Koshy as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court for the State of Telangana.

Academic and university governing bodies

Justice Koshy has been actively associated with academic governance and curriculum development across premier National Law Universities and institutions:

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

Serving concurrently as a Member of the General Council and also as a Member of its Academic Council.

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur

Was earlier a Member of the Academic Council; currently serving as a Member of the General Council.

Mahindra University School of Law, Hyderabad

Member of the Board of| studies.

Legal services and alternative dispute resolution

Telangana State Legal Services Authority

Nominated by the Governor of Telangana, Justice Koshy served his first term as Executive Chairman of the TGSLSA from 27th July, 2023 to 25th March, 2024, and was again nominated to the office for a second term with effect from 1st July, 2025 till date. In this role, he has guided state-wide legal literacy programs, expedited pre-litigation dispute mechanisms, and supervised National Lok Adalats focusing on compoundable offences, motor accident claims, and financial settlements.

Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

Justice Koshy has been a leading Advocate for institutionalized Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Gracing the “Mediation for the Nation” campaign as Chief Guest, he highlighted that mediation should be developed not as a mere extension of adversarial litigation, but as an amicable, conciliation-driven mechanism that preserves personal and commercial relationships while saving litigant resources and preventing court docket inflation. He has actively supported community mediation outreach, encouraging law students, paralegal volunteers, and trained Advocates to conduct mediation camps at the grassroots level.

National Legal Services Authority

Central Authority (Board Member)

The Union Ministry of Law appointed Justice Koshy as a Member of the Central Authority of the National Legal Services Authority on 1st December, 2025, contributing to national access-to-justice policies.

National Review Committee on LADCS Scheme

In March 2026, the Chief of India, the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA, in consultation with Execution Chairman, NALSA nominated Justice Koshy as chairman of a high-level NALSA Committee constituted to evaluate and revisit the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System (LADCS).

Facilitated an MoU between the School Education Department, Government of Telangana, and the Telangana State Legal Services Authority to promote legal literacy, constitutional values, child rights, and access to justice among school students and teachers. This program would be implemented in more than 5700 Government high schools in the State of Telangana. Each school will also have one child protection officer (a senior most woman teacher) to address the student grievances, identify the cases of child abuse, school drop outs and other vulnerabilities.

Outreach and lectures

He is a frequent visitor to the National Judicial Academy at Bhopal as a “Resource Person” addressing the Hon’ble Judges from across the country as also the District Judges from across the country on various topics and subjects.

Delivered the guest lecture on “Access to Justice: Impact and Challenges" organized by the Legal Aid Society of ICFAI Law School (IFHE), Hyderabad on 7th February, 2026.

Restorative Justice & Prison Welfare: Spearheaded institutional support for under trial legal aid, review of bail compliances, and rehabilitation infrastructure, including specialized de-addiction facilities for inmates at Chanchalguda Central Jail.

He presided over constitutional and administrative law matters, deciding various writ petitions and other legal proceedings.

External links

• High Court of Chhattisgarh Official Website
• High Court for the State of Telangana Official Website