The Central government on Thursday issued a notification appointing three new judges to the Supreme Court, following the approval of recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium. This comes after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the appointments, as confirmed by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Judges Appointed from Karnataka, Guwahati, and Bombay High Courts
The three new judges appointed to the apex court are:
- Chief Justice N V Anjaria of the Karnataka High Court
- Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi of the Guwahati High Court
- Justice A S Chandurkar of the Bombay High Court
Their elevation fills the vacancies created by the recent retirements of former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Abhay S Oka, and Justice Hrishikesh Roy.
Collegium Pushes for Diversity and Seniority
The Supreme Court Collegium, which met on May 26, had recommended the names for elevation based on a balance of regional representation and judicial seniority. The Collegium is currently composed of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, JK Maheshwari, and BV Nagarathna.
Faster Appointments Reflect Improving Centre-Judiciary Coordination
The speedy approval of the appointments marks a shift from past instances where the Supreme Court had criticized the Centre for delaying action on Collegium recommendations. Observers suggest this expedited process indicates improved cooperation between the judiciary and the executive.
Bench Strength Now at Full Sanctioned Capacity
With these appointments, the Supreme Court regains its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges. The move is expected to aid in tackling the pendency of cases and enhance judicial efficiency at the highest level.
