New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday got five new judges, taking the present strength to 32, out of a sanctioned capacity of 34.
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud administered the oath of office to Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol, P V Sanjay Kumar, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Manoj Misra as judges of the Supreme Court.
The programme was attended by Supreme Court judges, lawyers and family members of new judges.
With this, the number of the Supreme Court judges rose to 32 as against sanction strength of 34 judges.
The Law and Justice Ministry on Saturday had issued notifications on appointment of five judges.
This has come a day after the Apex Court warning the Centre of consequences over delay on recommendations made by the Collegium and the Attorney General (AG) of India, R Venkataramani assuring the court of quick action.
The recommendations made for elevation of two other judges to the Supreme Court on January 31 is still pending before the Union government.
The Collegium system for appointment of judges has of late been questioned by constitutional functionaries, including Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, which was seen as government’s bid to secure more active role in selecting judges.
On December 13, 2022, the six-member Collegium had recommended Justice Mithal, Chief Justice, Rajasthan High Court (parent high court: Allahabad); Justice Karol, Chief Justice, Patna High Court (PHC: Himachal Pradesh); Justice Kumar, Chief Justice, Manipur High Court (PHC: Telangana); Justice Amanullah, judge, Patna High Court; and, Justice Misra, judge, Allahabad High Court.
On January 31, the Supreme Court’s Collegium also had earlier recommended for elevation of Justice Rajesh Bindal, Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court and Justice Aravind Kumar, Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court as judges of the top court.
