Five New Judges Sworn into Supreme Court as Expanded Bench Nears Full Strength: Constitutional Reform Meets Judicial Renewal
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
New Delhi, June 2: In a significant moment for India’s constitutional judiciary, five distinguished jurists were sworn in as Judges of the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday, bringing the apex court to a working strength of 37 judges against its newly sanctioned strength of 38.
The appointments, notified on June 1 and formalized through an oath-taking ceremony administered under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, represent one of the most substantial expansions of the Court’s composition in recent years.
The newly inducted judges Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana join the nation’s highest constitutional court at a time when judicial efficiency, constitutional adjudication, and access to justice remain central concerns within India’s legal landscape.
Legislative Genesis: The Ordinance That Expanded the Apex Court
The appointments are the direct consequence of a major legislative initiative undertaken by the Union Government to augment the strength of the Supreme Court.
Last month, President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 under Article 123 of the Constitution, increasing the sanctioned strength of the Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
The expansion created six vacancies in the apex court, accounting for both newly created positions and existing vacancies.
In a parallel development, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister approved the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, intended to replace the Ordinance and permanently incorporate the increase into statutory law.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, raising the number of puisne judges from 33 to 37, exclusive of the Chief Justice of India.
The transition from Ordinance to Parliamentary enactment reflects the constitutional design governing emergency legislation. While the Ordinance enabled an immediate response to mounting judicial workloads, the proposed legislation will provide enduring parliamentary sanction to the expanded judicial strength, thereby completing the constitutional and legislative cycle envisaged under India’s democratic framework.
Distinguished Jurists Join the Apex Court
Justice Sheel Nagu: From Punjab and Haryana High Court to the Nation’s Highest Bench
Former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu brings to the Supreme Court extensive experience from one of India’s busiest constitutional courts. The High Court exercises jurisdiction over Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh and regularly adjudicates complex constitutional, criminal, administrative, and electoral disputes.
Justice Nagu’s elevation comes shortly after he presided over a Division Bench that adjudicated a politically significant challenge concerning the Punjab State Election Commission’s decision to conduct municipal elections through ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines.
The matter subsequently reached the Supreme Court, making his transition to the apex court particularly notable in the context of contemporary electoral jurisprudence.
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar: Leadership from One of India’s Oldest Constitutional Courts
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, until now Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, joins the Supreme Court carrying the institutional legacy of one of the country’s most venerable judicial institutions.
The Bombay High Court, with jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, has historically been a crucible of constitutional and commercial jurisprudence. Justice Chandrashekhar’s tenure at its helm afforded him exposure to a diverse range of legal issues spanning constitutional governance, corporate regulation, civil liberties, and public law.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva: Experience from the Heart of Contemporary Constitutional Debates
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, former Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, arrives at the Supreme Court during a period of intense national discussion surrounding religious-site litigation and historical property disputes.
During his tenure, the Madhya Pradesh High Court delivered the widely discussed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula judgment, a decision that attracted national attention and contributed significantly to ongoing debates regarding the legal framework governing disputed places of worship. His elevation adds to the Supreme Court a jurist experienced in navigating matters situated at the intersection of constitutional rights, history, and public sentiment.
Justice Arun Palli: Constitutional Perspective from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, brings to the apex court a unique constitutional perspective shaped by service in a region that has witnessed profound legal and administrative transformation since 2019.
The High Court’s jurisdiction over Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has required adjudication of complex questions relating to governance, constitutional transition, federalism, and administrative restructuring. Legal observers regard Justice Palli’s experience as particularly valuable at a time when issues concerning Centre-State relations and constitutional governance continue to occupy judicial attention.
Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana: A Rare Direct Elevation from the Bar
Among the five appointees, the elevation of Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana stands out as a constitutionally significant development.
Unlike her fellow appointees, she joins the Supreme Court directly from the Bar under Article 124(3)(b) of the Constitution, which permits the appointment of distinguished advocates with at least ten years’ standing as judges of the Supreme Court.
Such appointments remain relatively rare in the Court’s history and are generally reserved for legal practitioners whose professional contributions are considered exceptional by the constitutional authorities involved in the appointment process.
Her induction also carries considerable significance for gender representation within the higher judiciary.
With her swearing-in, the number of women judges presently serving on the Supreme Court rises to two. While legal commentators have welcomed the development, many continue to emphasize the need for greater gender diversity within constitutional courts to better reflect the inclusiveness envisioned by the Constitution.
Strengthening Institutional Capacity
Legal experts view the induction of five judges as a substantial reinforcement of the Supreme Court’s institutional capacity.
With only one vacancy now remaining, the Court is positioned to function at near-full sanctioned strength, enabling it to constitute more Constitution Benches, hear a greater number of matters simultaneously, and address long-pending constitutional questions awaiting authoritative determination.
The significance of these appointments extends beyond numerical expansion.
A fully staffed Supreme Court possesses enhanced capacity to reduce pendency, expedite adjudication, and ensure more timely access to justice for litigants across the country.
Behind the statistics lie millions of citizens whose disputes, rights claims, criminal appeals, and constitutional grievances ultimately depend upon the Court’s ability to deliver justice efficiently and effectively.
The Constitutional Covenant of Office
The swearing-in ceremony marked more than a formal assumption of office. Under the Third Schedule to the Constitution, each judge undertook a solemn constitutional oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India, uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, faithfully discharge judicial duties, and administer justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
That oath embodies the foundational principles upon which the Indian judiciary rests judicial independence, constitutional fidelity, impartiality, and the rule of law.
As five new judges take their places on the nation’s highest bench, the Supreme Court moves closer to its full sanctioned strength while simultaneously renewing its institutional commitment to constitutional governance.
Their appointments mark not merely an expansion of judicial numbers but a reinforcement of the constitutional architecture entrusted with safeguarding the rights, liberties, and legal aspirations of more than a billion citizens.
Appointments Notified: June 1, 2026
Oath Administered: June 2, 2026
Constitutional Provision: Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India
New Appointees: Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana
Current Working Strength: 37 Judges
Sanctioned Strength: 38 Judges
Vacancy Remaining: 1 Judge.
