Three New Judges Take Oath, Supreme Court Back To Its Full Strength Of 34 Judges
Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Augustine George Masih, and Sandeep Mehta took oath as judges of the Supreme Court on Thursday. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud administered the oath to them at a ceremony held in the Additional Complex of the Supreme Court today at 4.15 PM.It was on November 6 that the 5-member Supreme Court collegium led by the CJI recommended their names for elevation...
Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Augustine George Masih, and Sandeep Mehta took oath as judges of the Supreme Court on Thursday. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud administered the oath to them at a ceremony held in the Additional Complex of the Supreme Court today at 4.15 PM.
It was on November 6 that the 5-member Supreme Court collegium led by the CJI recommended their names for elevation and the Central Government cleared the proposals in prompt manner, with their appointments being officially notified today.
With the new appointments, the Supreme Court is back to its full strength of 34 judges. Before their elevation, Justices Sharma, Masih and Mehta were the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Delhi, Rajasthan, and Gauhati respectively as judges of the Supreme Court. The parent High Courts of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Augustine George Masih, and Sandeep Mehta are Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana and Rajasthan respectively.
With their appointment, the Supreme Court will be back to its full strength of 34 judges. The top court currently has 31 judges, including the Chief Justice and 30 puisne judges. In December, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul is set to retire.
Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
While recommending Justice Sharma’s name, the collegium noted that he was the second-most senior judge across the country, and the most senior from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which was his parent high court. Among other things, his appointment would enhance the representation in the top court of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which currently has only one judge from there.
Justice Augustine George Masih
While recommending Justice Masih's name, the collegium noted that he was seventh in terms of overall seniority, but first when it came to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is the parent high court of two other judges on the Supreme Court bench. The collegium also considered Justice Masih's membership of a minority community.
Justice Sandeep Mehta
Lastly, Justice Mehta, the collegium resolution notes, is twenty-third on the list of overall seniority, but is the most senior of all judges hailing originally from the Rajasthan High Court. After the retirement of Justice Ajay Rastogi in June, the Rajasthan High Court remains unrepresented on the apex court bench. "Apart from according representation to the State of Rajasthan, the appointment of Justice Mehta will provide a value addition in terms of his acquired knowledge and experience," the resolution adds.