NEW DELHI, Jun 2: India’s highest judicial institution moved closer to its expanded capacity on Tuesday after five distinguished legal professionals formally joined the Supreme Court, marking one of the largest simultaneous inductions in recent years.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant presided over the swearing-in ceremony held within the Supreme Court complex, where the newly appointed judges took their oath of office and secrecy. The appointments are expected to strengthen the court’s ability to handle its growing caseload and enhance the efficiency of judicial proceedings.
The new members of the apex court include Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli and senior advocate V Mohana. Each brings extensive experience from different segments of the legal system, including constitutional adjudication, civil and criminal law, and judicial administration.
With their induction, the working strength of the Supreme Court has increased to 37 judges, placing the institution just one position short of its newly enhanced sanctioned capacity. The expansion follows recent legislative measures aimed at addressing the rising number of pending cases and ensuring faster delivery of justice.
The appointments received formal approval from the Union Government earlier this week after recommendations were processed through the established judicial appointment mechanism. Several of the newly elevated judges had been serving as chief justices of prominent High Courts across the country before their elevation to the nation’s highest court.
Legal experts believe the addition of experienced judges from diverse judicial backgrounds will contribute significantly to the court’s constitutional, civil, commercial and public interest litigation work. Their presence is also expected to help reduce delays in hearing important matters awaiting adjudication.
The expansion comes shortly after the government increased the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court through an ordinance amending the relevant law governing the composition of the apex judiciary. The revised framework raised the permissible number of judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
Judicial observers have welcomed the move, noting that a larger bench strength can improve case management and provide greater flexibility in constituting constitutional benches for matters involving significant questions of law.
The latest appointments represent another milestone in the ongoing effort to modernise India’s judicial system and improve access to timely justice. With only one vacancy remaining under the revised structure, the Supreme Court is now operating at nearly full capacity as it prepares to tackle an increasingly complex legal landscape.