Key Highlights
- The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court has been raised from 34 to 38 judges.
- Five appointments—four High Court chief justices and a senior advocate—have received presidential approval under Article 124(2).
- This marks the first major elevation exercise overseen by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
- Senior advocate V. Mohana becomes the second woman elevated directly from the bar to the Supreme Court.
- With the new appointees, the Court’s working strength will rise to 37, leaving a single vacancy.
Detailed Insights
The Union Law Minister announced that the President, acting pursuant to Article 124(2) of the Constitution, has authorized the induction of five new judges after an ordinance expanded the Court’s sanctioned strength to 38. The collegium—headed by CJI Surya Kant and comprising Justices Vikram Nath, J.K. Maheshwari, B.V. Nagarathna, and M.M. Sundresh—recommended the names following intensive internal deliberations.
The four High Court chief justices slated for elevation are Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab & Haryana), Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (Bombay), Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva (Madhya Pradesh), and Justice Arun Palli (Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh). Their expected tenures range from roughly three to three‑and‑a‑half years, aligning with the retirement ages stipulated for Supreme Court judges.
Senior advocate V. Mohana, a first‑generation lawyer from Coimbatore with more than 37 years of practice, will join the Court as a judge, becoming the second woman ever appointed directly from the bar—after Justice Indu Malhotra. Her elevation is hailed as a milestone for gender representation in the higher judiciary.
The expansion seeks to alleviate chronic case backlogs, reduce judicial workload, and hasten disposal of pending matters. Once the five are sworn in, the functional strength will be 37, leaving only one vacancy to be filled later.
Key Concepts
- Article 124(2): Constitutional provision governing the appointment of Supreme Court judges by the President on the recommendation of the collegium.
- Collegium: A body of the five senior-most Supreme Court judges that selects candidates for elevation to the apex court.
- Senior Advocate: A distinguished lawyer designated by a High Court or the Supreme Court in recognition of exceptional ability and standing.
- Case Pendency: The accumulation of unresolved cases awaiting judgment, a chronic issue in India’s judiciary.
- Direct Elevation from the Bar: Appointment of a practicing lawyer to the Supreme Court without prior service as a judge, a rare occurrence.