Centre Notifies Appointment of Five New Supreme Court Judges, Strength Rises to 37
In a major development for India’s higher judiciary, the Union Government has officially notified the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court of India, significantly increasing the court’s working strength and addressing concerns over mounting case backlogs. The appointments follow recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium in May 2026 and come shortly after the sanctioned strength of the apex court was expanded from 34 to 38 judges through a presidential ordinance.
Who Are the Five New Supreme Court Judges?
The newly appointed judges include four serving Chief Justices of High Courts and one distinguished senior advocate:
- Justice Sheel Nagu
- Justice Shree Chandrashekhar
- Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva
- Justice Arun Palli
- V. Mohana
Their appointments were formally cleared by the Centre after recommendations by the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
Supreme Court Nears Full Strength
With these appointments, the Supreme Court’s working strength rises to 37 judges, just one short of the newly approved sanctioned strength of 38 judges. The expansion is being viewed as a significant step toward reducing pendency and improving judicial efficiency in the country’s highest court.
The Supreme Court has witnessed a steady increase in sanctioned strength over the decades due to rising litigation. From an original strength of eight judges in 1950, Parliament has periodically increased the number to accommodate the growing workload of constitutional, civil, criminal, and public interest matters.
Why the Appointments Matter
The appointments are notable for several reasons:
- Four High Court Chief Justices have been elevated simultaneously.
- Senior Advocate V. Mohana joins directly from the Bar, a relatively uncommon route to the apex court.
- The appointments come amid increasing pressure to address judicial vacancies and case pendency.
- The expansion follows the Centre’s recent move to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38.
Legal observers believe the move could strengthen the court’s capacity to hear constitutional matters, commercial disputes, criminal appeals, and public interest litigation more efficiently.
Debate Over Expansion Through Ordinance
The increase in judicial strength has also triggered constitutional debate. Some legal scholars have welcomed the expansion as necessary for managing India’s enormous judicial workload, while others have questioned whether increasing judge numbers alone can solve systemic issues such as infrastructure shortages, procedural delays, and vacancies in lower courts. Discussions have also emerged regarding the use of an ordinance route for increasing the sanctioned strength of the apex court.
Impact on the Judiciary
The latest appointments mark one of the most significant expansions of the Supreme Court bench in recent years. The move is expected to improve case disposal rates, allow more Constitution Benches to function simultaneously, and strengthen judicial administration at a time when several high-profile constitutional and governance-related cases are pending before the apex court.
The appointments also reflect the continuing role of the Collegium system, under which judicial appointments are recommended by senior judges and formally approved by the executive branch.
