Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on June 2 administered the oath of office to five new judges of the Supreme Court, marking a significant expansion of the apex court’s strength to 37 judges, the highest in its history and just one short of the sanctioned strength of 38.
The swearing-in ceremony was held on the Supreme Court premises, where Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli and V Mohana took oath as judges of the Supreme Court of India.
The appointments were cleared by the Centre on Monday following recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium made on May 27, reflecting a swift approval process within days of the proposal being submitted. The expansion comes after a recent legislative change that increased the sanctioned strength of the court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
Among the newly appointed judges, Justice V Mohana’s elevation is notable as she becomes the second woman to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bar after Justice Indu Malhotra in 2018. She joins Justice B V Nagarathna as one of the two serving women judges in the apex court, with Justice Nagarathna expected to become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027.
The new judges bring extensive judicial experience from various High Courts. Justice Nagu served as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Chandrashekhar as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Sachdeva as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Palli as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, while Justice Mohana was a senior advocate prior to her elevation.
The appointments come ahead of the upcoming retirement of two sitting judges, Justice Pankaj Mithal on June 16 and Justice J K Maheshwari on June 28, ensuring continuity in the functioning of the apex court amid its expanded strength.
