The Supreme Court is set to receive five new judges after the Central Government approved the names recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium. This will bring the apex court close to its newly expanded sanctioned strength of 38 judges.
President Approves Appointments
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on X that the President has approved the appointment of four high court Chief Justices and Senior Advocate V. Mohana as judges of the Supreme Court under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
List of Appointees
- Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court
- Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court
- Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
- Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana
Collegium's Recommendation
The appointments come days after the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, recommended their elevation on May 27. This is the Collegium's first major set of appointments under CJI Surya Kant, who assumed office in November 2025.
Expansion of Sanctioned Strength
The development follows the Centre's decision to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. With these five appointments, the Supreme Court's strength will rise to 37 judges, leaving only one vacancy.
Addressing Case Pendency
The expansion is aimed at addressing the growing pendency of cases in the apex court and enabling the constitution of more regular Constitution Benches. The latest appointments are expected to strengthen the court's capacity while reflecting considerations of seniority, merit, regional representation, and gender diversity.
Based on inputs from ANI
