Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud administered the oath of office to five newly appointed judges of the Supreme Court on Monday, expanding the strength of the top court to 34 judges. The new judges are Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Augustine George Masih, Rajesh Bindal, Aniruddha Bose, and B.V. Nagarathna.
Ceremony Held in Supreme Court Premises
The oath-taking ceremony took place in the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi. The five judges were appointed by the President of India following the recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium. Their appointments come at a time when the Supreme Court is dealing with a heavy backlog of cases.
Notable Appointments
Justice B.V. Nagarathna, who is from Karnataka, is set to become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027 if she is appointed to the top post. Justice Satish Chandra Sharma was previously the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, while Justice Augustine George Masih served as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Justice Rajesh Bindal was a judge of the Calcutta High Court, and Justice Aniruddha Bose was a judge of the Calcutta High Court as well.
The expansion of the Supreme Court is expected to help in faster disposal of cases. The five judges will now join the existing bench to hear a variety of cases, including constitutional matters and appeals. The appointments have been widely welcomed by the legal fraternity.
