With 5 new judges, SC's strength increases to 37, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Five new judges were sworn into the Supreme Court on Tuesday, increasing its working strength to 37.
• The appointments include four former High Court Chief Justices and Senior Advocate V S Mohana.
• With V S Mohana's elevation, the number of women judges in the Supreme Court has risen to two.
• The Supreme Court's sanctioned strength has been increased from 34 to 38 through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.
• This increase aims to facilitate the establishment of a permanent constitution bench to address pending cases.

Detailed Insights:

• The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to the newly appointed judges.
• The Supreme Court collegium, headed by CJI Kant, recommended these five names in meetings held in May.
• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, which governs the court's strength, was amended to accommodate the increase.
• This marks the first increase in the Supreme Court's strength since 2019, when it was raised from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI).
• Historically, the court's strength has been periodically increased from an initial 10 judges (excluding CJI) in 1956 to meet judicial demands.
• More judicial vacancies are anticipated this year, with at least four judges expected to retire from the top court.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Supreme Court Collegium: A system of appointment and transfer of judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Sanctioned Strength: The maximum number of judges legally permitted in a court, as defined by law.
• Constitution Bench: A bench of the Supreme Court comprising five or more judges to decide substantial questions of law concerning the interpretation of the Constitution.
• Working Strength: The actual number of judges currently serving in a court at any given time.