SC to get five new judges as Centre clears collegium-recommended names
New Delhi, June 1
The Supreme Court is set to get five new judges after the Central Government cleared the names recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, taking the apex court close to its newly expanded sanctioned strength.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on X that the President of India 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.
The appointees are 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; and Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana.
The appointments come days after the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, recommended their elevation on May 27. The Collegium's recommendation was its first major set of appointments under the leadership of CJI Surya Kant, who assumed office in November 2025.
The development also 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 the five appointments, the Supreme Court's strength will rise to 37 judges, leaving only one vacancy.
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 in judicial appointments.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the government moving quickly on collegium recommendations. But I'm curious about gender diversity - only one woman among the five? In 2026, that's not great. We need more women in higher judiciary, not just token representation.
This is good progress, but I wish the Collegium system itself was more transparent. Also, Senior Advocate V. Mohana being elevated directly from Bar to Bench is impressive! Shows that expertise from practice is valued. Now we need to ensure the backlog of cases gets the attention it deserves.
It's nice to see the government and judiciary working together smoothly. But I hope these appointments aren't just about filling vacancies - they need to bring fresh perspectives on constitutional matters and social justice. Let's hope they form regular Constitution Benches to handle important cases efficiently!
The expansion from 34 to 38 judges is overdue. India has the highest case pendency in the world - over 4 crore cases across all courts. Five new judges is a start, but we need systemic reforms, not just more judges. Better case management, digital infrastructure, and alternative dispute resolution are equally important.
Great that the SC is getting new judges, but I have mixed feelings. The Collegium system needs more transparency - we don't know much about these judges' track records on important issues like civil liberties, environmental justice, or labor rights. Hope they prove to be independent and fair.
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