Five New Judges Sworn in as Supreme Court Expands Strength

New Delhi, June 2026 : The strength of the Supreme Court received a significant boost on Tuesday as Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant administered the oath of office to five newly appointed judges of the apex court.

The newly sworn-in judges are Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli and senior advocate V. Mohana. Their appointments were cleared by the Centre following recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium in meetings held on May 22 and May 27.

The swearing-in ceremony marked an important development for the country’s highest court, which has recently seen an increase in its sanctioned judicial strength. The appointments are expected to help the court address its growing workload and improve the pace of disposal of cases.

A day before the oath-taking ceremony, Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced that the President of India had approved the appointments after consultation with the Chief Justice of India. The decision followed the recommendations of the Collegium, the body responsible for recommending appointments and transfers in the higher judiciary.

The Supreme Court Collegium, in an official statement, had recommended the elevation of four serving High Court Chief Justices and one distinguished senior advocate to the apex court, citing their judicial experience, professional competence and contributions to the legal system.

Justice Sheel Nagu began his judicial career in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, where he was appointed as a judge in May 2011. After serving for over a decade, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2024.

Justice Shree Chandrashekhar was appointed as a judge of the Jharkhand High Court in January 2013. He later became the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in January 2025 and earned recognition for his judicial work in constitutional and administrative matters.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva joined the Delhi High Court as an Additional Judge in April 2013 and became a permanent judge in March 2015. In July 2025, he took charge as the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Justice Arun Palli was elevated to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in December 2013. He subsequently assumed office as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in April 2025.

The fifth appointee, V. Mohana, comes directly from the Bar. A highly respected senior advocate, Mohana has appeared in numerous constitutional, civil and service law matters before the Supreme Court and has built a distinguished legal career over several decades.

The appointments come shortly after Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, which increased the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

With the induction of the five new judges, the apex court is expected to strengthen its judicial capacity and enhance the efficiency of the administration of justice across the country.