Centre clears five new judges for SC; strength rises to 37, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Centre approved the appointment of five judges to the Supreme Court on Monday.
• The appointments raise the Supreme Court's strength to 37, nearing its sanctioned strength of 38.
• The appointments were made under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
• V. Mohana, a senior advocate known for her work on gender equality in the armed forces, is among those appointed.
• The appointments follow the Collegium’s recommendation on May 27, 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was recently increased from 34 to 38 judges through an ordinance on May 5, 2026.
• The newly appointed judges include the Chief Justices of the Punjab and Haryana, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Courts.
• Currently, Justice B.V. Nagarathna is the only woman judge in the Supreme Court and a member of the Supreme Court Collegium.
• Article 124(2) of the Constitution deals with the appointment of Supreme Court judges by the President.
• The appointment of V. Mohana highlights the importance of gender equality and representation in the judiciary.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 124(2): Constitutional provision outlining the appointment of Supreme Court judges by the President.
• Supreme Court Collegium: A body of senior judges responsible for recommending appointments and transfers of judges in the higher judiciary.
• Sanctioned Strength: The approved number of judges for a particular court.