NEW DELHI, June 1: In a significant development for India’s judiciary, the Centre on Monday appointed five distinguished legal professionals and high court chief justices as judges of the Supreme Court, taking the apex court to just one position short of its newly enhanced sanctioned strength.
The appointments were announced through separate notifications issued by the Department of Justice under the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. The newly elevated judges include senior advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana, along with Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Arun Palli, all of whom have served in key judicial leadership roles across various high courts in the country.
Following the completion of the oath-taking process, the Supreme Court’s working strength will rise to 37 judges. The sanctioned strength of the apex court was recently increased from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India, through an ordinance promulgated by the Central Government last month.
The expansion of the court’s capacity comes at a time when the judiciary continues to deal with a substantial caseload. The latest appointments are expected to improve the court’s ability to hear matters more efficiently and reduce delays in the disposal of cases.
The five names were recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on May 27. The swift approval by the government, completed within four days, reflects an expedited process aimed at filling key vacancies in the country’s highest judicial institution.
Before the enhancement of the sanctioned strength, the Supreme Court already had two vacant positions. The increase in the number of approved posts created a total of six vacancies. With the latest appointments, only one position remains to be filled.
The newly appointed judges bring with them extensive judicial and legal experience gathered over decades of service in constitutional courts and the legal profession. Their elevation is expected to strengthen the apex court’s institutional capacity and contribute to the effective administration of justice.
The appointments mark one of the most significant expansions of the Supreme Court bench in recent years and underscore ongoing efforts to reinforce the country’s judicial framework amid rising legal demands.