Five New Judges Recommended for Appointment to the Supreme Court
In a major development for India’s judiciary, the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has recommended the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court of India. The recommendations were made during Collegium meetings held on 22 and 27 May 2026 and come shortly after the sanctioned strength of the apex court was expanded from 34 to 38 judges.
The Collegium has reportedly recommended the elevation of four High Court Chief Justices along with senior advocate V. Mohana to the Supreme Court. The four Chief Justices are:
- Justice Sheel Nagu
- Justice Shree Chandrashekhar
- Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva
- Justice Arun Palli
This is the first major judicial appointment exercise under the leadership of CJI Surya Kant since assuming office in November 2025. Unlike earlier collegium resolutions that occasionally disclosed deliberative details, the latest recommendations reportedly maintain institutional confidentiality regarding the selection process.
The move is being viewed as an attempt to strengthen the Supreme Court amid rising case pendency and increasing constitutional litigation. The Union government had recently approved expansion of the Court’s strength to improve disposal rates and reduce delays in hearings.
Legal observers note that the inclusion of senior advocate V. Mohana is particularly significant because direct elevation from the Bar to the Supreme Court remains relatively rare compared to appointments from High Courts. The recommendations now await approval by the Central Government and formal notification by the President of India before the judges can take oath.
