India's Supreme Court Gains Five New Judges, Nears Full Strength
Five new judges, including Senior Advocate V. Mohana, took oath in the Supreme Court of India on June 2, 2026. This elevates the court's working strength to 37 judges, bringing it closer to its recently expanded sanctioned strength of 38, marking a significant step in addressing judicial vacancies and case backlog.
Key Highlights
- Five new Supreme Court judges, including one woman, took oath.
- Court's working strength increased to 37 judges against 38 sanctioned.
- V. Mohana is the 12th woman judge and 2nd direct Bar elevation.
- Appointments follow Collegium recommendations approved by Centre.
- Sanctioned strength recently increased via Supreme Court Amendment Ordinance.
- Move aims to address mounting case backlog and judicial vacancies.
On June 2, 2026, the Supreme Court of India witnessed a significant development as five new judges were administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant in a ceremony held in the court premises. This crucial event brings the Supreme Court's working strength to 37 judges, moving it substantially closer to its newly expanded sanctioned strength of 38, including the CJI.
The five judicial luminaries who took the oath are Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate V. Mohana. Justices Nagu, Chandrashekhar, Sachdeva, and Palli were serving as Chief Justices of various High Courts before their elevation, bringing a wealth of experience from the High Court judiciary.
A particularly notable aspect of these appointments is the elevation of Senior Advocate V. Mohana. She becomes the 12th female judge in the history of the Supreme Court of India and only the second woman to be directly elevated from the Bar to the apex court bench, following Justice Indu Malhotra in 2018. Her appointment is significant as it enhances the representation of women judges in the Supreme Court. Before her elevation, Justice B.V. Nagarathna was the sole woman judge serving on the bench. Mohana's elevation, therefore, adds a vital dimension to gender diversity within the highest echelons of the Indian judiciary.
The process for these appointments involved recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by CJI Surya Kant. The Collegium, in its meetings held on May 22 and May 27, 2026, recommended these five names for elevation. The Union government subsequently cleared these recommendations, notifying the appointments on June 1, 2026, just a day before the oath-taking ceremony. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointments via social media, confirming that the President had appointed the judges after consultation with the CJI, in exercise of powers conferred by Article 124(2) of the Constitution of India.
These appointments come shortly after the Central government increased the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court. Through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, the sanctioned strength was raised from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice of India), or 37 judges excluding the CJI. This expansion was a strategic move aimed at addressing the mounting backlog of cases, which had crossed over 92,000, and to facilitate the regular convening of Constitution Benches. Before these five new judges were sworn in, the Supreme Court was functioning with 32 judges. With their addition, the working strength now stands at 37, leaving only one position vacant against the newly sanctioned strength.
The rapid clearance of these appointments and the swift oath-taking ceremony underscore the government's and judiciary's commitment to filling vacancies and bolstering the court's capacity. The new judges are expected to contribute significantly to expediting the disposal of cases and strengthening the judicial system. This development is seen as a crucial step in maintaining the court's working strength, especially as some retirements are anticipated later in the year, ensuring continuity and efficiency in the apex court's functioning. The collective expertise of the newly appointed judges, spanning various High Courts and the Bar, is expected to enrich the deliberations and judgments of the Supreme Court, serving the Indian populace effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the five new judges appointed to the Supreme Court of India?
The five new judges are Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate V. Mohana.
What is the new working strength of the Supreme Court after these appointments?
With the addition of these five judges, the working strength of the Supreme Court of India has increased to 37 judges.
How does this appointment impact the representation of women judges in the Supreme Court?
The elevation of Senior Advocate V. Mohana is significant as she becomes the 12th female judge in the Supreme Court's history and only the second woman to be directly elevated from the Bar. This increases the representation of women judges, as Justice B.V. Nagarathna was previously the sole woman judge.
What is the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India?
The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India was recently increased to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. After these appointments, there is only one vacancy remaining.
What was the process for these judicial appointments?
The appointments followed recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by CJI Surya Kant, in meetings held on May 22 and May 27, 2026. The Union government subsequently approved and notified these appointments on June 1, 2026.