Supreme Court: Gets Three New Judges, Strength Rises To 37

• Three new judges were sworn into the Supreme Court today, raising its total judicial strength to 37.
• The appointments followed the central government's approval of recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium last week.
• The new appointees are Justice Sunita Agarwal, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, all of whom previously served as Chief Justices of various High Courts.
• The swearing-in ceremony took place at 3:30 PM, departing from the usual morning schedule for such events.

With these appointments, the Supreme Court's total judicial strength now stands at 37, reinforcing its capacity to address a wide range of legal matters.

Three new judges have officially joined the Supreme Court, taking their oaths today. This development follows the central government's swift approval of recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium just yesterday. The Collegium had put forward these names last week, with their formal meeting on September 28 marking the decision.

The induction ceremony for the three jurists took place this afternoon at 3:30 PM, a notable deviation from the customary morning schedule for such events. With these appointments, the Supreme Court's total judicial strength now stands at 37, reinforcing its capacity to address a wide range of legal matters.

The newly appointed judges bring extensive experience from various high courts across the nation. Justice Sunita Agarwal, who most recently served as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad, has a distinguished career spanning decades. She was appointed to lead the Gujarat High Court on July 23, 2023, following twelve years as a judge at the Allahabad High Court. Her journey began with 21 years in legal practice before her elevation as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on November 21, 2011, and subsequently as a Permanent Judge on August 6, 2013.

Justice Agarwal's judicial tenure saw her preside over both Single and Division Benches, handling a broad spectrum of cases including civil and criminal appeals, service matters, land acquisition disputes, intra-court appeals, and constitutional issues. Notably, she was also a member of a seven-judge bench at the Allahabad High Court, which was tasked with addressing concerns related to subordinate courts and the infrastructural needs of both the High Court and its subordinate judiciary.

Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, previously the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, also brings a wealth of judicial expertise. He was initially appointed and sworn in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay on July 29, 2023. Subsequently, he was transferred to become the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi, taking his oath for that position on January 21, 2025. His earlier career included an appointment as a puisne Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad on November 21, 2011, becoming a permanent judge there on August 6, 2013. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as the Senior Judge of the Lucknow Bench from March 28, 2023.

The third appointee, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, served as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. His judicial career commenced with his appointment as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand on January 24, 2012, and he was confirmed as a Permanent Judge on January 16, 2014. Justice Singh also held the significant role of Executive Chairman of the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority. He briefly served as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand from December 20, 2022, to February 19, 2023. Prior to his transfer to Telangana, he took oath as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura on April 17, 2023, and then assumed his role as Chief Justice of the High Court for the State of Telangana on July 19, 2025.

The appointments underscore the established process for judicial elevations to the nation's highest court. The Supreme Court Collegium, responsible for identifying and recommending candidates, had previously forwarded the names of these three distinguished jurists to the central government for consideration.

Following the Collegium's formal recommendation, which occurred last week after its September 28 meeting, the Centre proceeded with its approval. This collaborative mechanism between the judiciary and the executive is central to the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, ensuring a structured approach to filling vacancies.

The addition of three highly experienced judges is crucial for the Supreme Court's operational efficiency and its ability to manage its extensive caseload. Each new justice brings a unique background and specialized knowledge from their tenures as Chief Justices and judges in various high courts, enriching the collective expertise of the apex court.

These appointments ensure that the Supreme Court maintains robust judicial strength, which is vital for the timely adjudication of complex legal issues and for upholding the rule of law across the country. The diverse experience of the new appointees, covering a wide range of legal jurisdictions, will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the court's deliberations and judgments.

Source: Reporting on judicial appointments.