Centre Clears Five New Supreme Court Judges

Announcing the development on social media platform X, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the President of India has approved the appointments under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.

The newly appointed judges include Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court; Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court; Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh; and Senior Advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana.

The appointments come just days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended their elevation on May 27. The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, made the recommendations as part of its first major exercise in judicial appointments since he assumed office in November 2025.

The latest inductions also follow the Centre’s decision to enhance the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. Once the five appointees take oath, the apex court’s working strength will rise to 37 judges, leaving only a single vacancy.

The increase in judicial strength is expected to play a crucial role in tackling the mounting backlog of cases pending before the country’s highest court. It is also likely to facilitate the more frequent constitution of Constitution Benches for hearing matters involving substantial questions of law and constitutional interpretation.

Legal experts view the appointments as an important step towards improving judicial efficiency while maintaining a balance of seniority, merit, regional representation and diversity in the higher judiciary. The move is expected to further bolster the Supreme Court’s ability to manage its growing workload and deliver timely justice.