Three New Judges Join The Supreme Court
The Central government has officially notified the appointment of three new judges to the Supreme Court of India. With these fresh elevations, the top court now operates with 37 judges, out of its approved strength of 38. These appointments follow the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium.
The newly appointed judges are experienced heads of various High Courts across the country. Their onboarding brings critical judicial experience directly into the highest court of the land.
Who Are The Newly Appointed Judges?
The three esteemed judges elevated to the Supreme Court possess rich legal and judicial backgrounds:
- Justice Sunita Agarwal: Formerly the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court and originally a judge of the Allahabad High Court. She began her legal profession in December 1990 and became a judge in November 2011. She is set to retire from the apex court in April 2031.
- Justice DK Upadhyaya: Previously served as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and earlier the Bombay High Court. He enrolled as an advocate in May 1991 and served as the Chief Standing Counsel for Uttar Pradesh before his elevation as a judge in November 2011.
- Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh: Most recently the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. He practiced before the Patna and Jharkhand High Courts before being appointed as a judge in 2012, later serving as Chief Justice in Tripura and Telangana.
What The Law Says: How Supreme Court Judges Are Appointed
The appointment of judges to the Supreme Court of India is governed by Article 124 of the Constitution of India. Under this provision, every judge of the Supreme Court is appointed by the President of India after consultation with judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts as the President may deem necessary.
In practice, this process functions through the Collegium System. The Supreme Court Collegium—headed by the Chief Justice of India and comprising senior-most judges of the apex court—recommends names to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. Once the government clears these names, the President formally issues the warrants of appointment.
Why This Matters For You
A fully-staffed or near-full-strength Supreme Court is essential for the swift delivery of justice in India. When vacancies in the apex court are filled promptly, it helps tackle the massive backlog of pending cases. For everyday citizens, law students, and litigants, efficient benches mean quicker resolutions to constitutional disputes, appeals, and civil or criminal matters.
These three high-profile elevations strengthen the judicial workforce at the top, ensuring that critical matters receive the judicial attention they deserve.
Story reported by Barandbench. This article is BareLaw’s independent explanation and analysis.
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