Supreme Court Gains Five New Judges, Sanctioned Strength Rises to 37
The Supreme Court welcomed five new judges, increasing its working strength to 37, leaving only one position vacant. These appointments follow the Centre's decision to raise the court's sanctioned strength from 33 to 37 judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. CJI Surya Kant administered the oath of office to the new appointees, who include former Chief Justices of various High Courts and a senior advocate. This move aims to address the workload and ensure timely justice delivery in the apex court.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court's working strength has increased to 37 judges with the appointment of five new judges.
- This expansion follows the Centre's decision to raise the sanctioned strength from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
- The increase was facilitated by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026.
- The new judges include former Chief Justices of Punjab and Haryana, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh, J&K and Ladakh High Courts, and a senior advocate.
- The appointments aim to enhance the court's capacity to handle its caseload.
Exam Facts
- The Supreme Court's sanctioned strength increased from 33 to 37 judges (excluding CJI).
- The increase was enacted through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026.
- CJI Surya Kant administered the oath of office.
- New judges include Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli, and V.S. Mohana.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.