Chief Justice of India Surya Kant administered the oath of office to five new judges in New Delhi on June 2, 2024 [4].
The appointments aim to reduce the judicial backlog by filling critical vacancies and bringing the court closer to its full capacity.
The newly sworn-in judges include Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and V Mohana [1]. This ceremony marks a significant increase in the court's operational capacity, raising the working strength from 32 to 37 judges [1].
With these five additions [3], the Supreme Court of India has reached its highest-ever working strength. The current total of 37 judges [3] now nearly meets the sanctioned strength of 38 judges [1].
The expansion of the bench is intended to streamline the administration of justice. By operating near full capacity, the court can address a wider array of legal challenges and expedite the resolution of pending cases across the country.
The appointment of Justice Shree Chandrashekhar is particularly notable, as he previously served as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court [2].
This strategic increase in personnel reflects an effort to stabilize the judiciary's workload. The addition of these five members ensures that the court can maintain its functions while managing the high volume of appeals and constitutional matters that define the Indian legal system.
“The Supreme Court of India has reached its highest-ever working strength.”
The increase to 37 judges represents a critical step toward achieving the court's full sanctioned capacity of 38. By operating at near-maximum strength, the Supreme Court can better manage its massive caseload and reduce the time it takes for litigants to receive final judgments, potentially improving the overall efficiency of the Indian judicial process.
