Supreme Court Gets Five New Judges, Taking Bench Strength To Record 37
India’s judiciary reached a significant milestone on Tuesday as five new judges were sworn in to the Supreme Court, pushing the court’s working strength to 37 judges — the highest in its history and just one short of the newly expanded sanctioned capacity.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant administered the oath of office to Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli and senior advocate V. Mohana during a ceremony held at the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi.
The appointments come shortly after the Union government approved the elevation of the five legal luminaries following recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium. Their induction significantly strengthens the apex court at a time when it continues to handle a growing number of constitutional, civil and criminal matters.
The latest appointments also follow the Centre’s decision to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. With 37 judges now in office, the court is operating at its highest-ever strength.
Among the newly inducted judges, V. Mohana has created history by becoming only the second woman advocate to be directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court. Her appointment adds to the representation of women in the country's highest judicial institution and is being viewed as a landmark moment for the legal fraternity.
The new appointees bring decades of judicial and legal experience from various High Courts across the country. Their elevation reflects a blend of administrative expertise, judicial service and legal scholarship accumulated over years on the Bench and at the Bar.
The appointments also come ahead of the retirement of two sitting Supreme Court judges later this month, ensuring that the court maintains its operational strength and continuity in handling key cases.
Legal observers believe the expanded bench strength will help improve case disposal rates, reduce pendency and enhance the court’s capacity to hear important constitutional matters.
With the induction of five new members, the Supreme Court enters a new phase with one of its strongest-ever benches, reinforcing the institution's ability to address the increasing demands of India's justice system.
