Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Justice Arun Palli, and Senior Advocate V. Mohana have been elevated to the Supreme Court of India, marking a significant development in the composition of the apex court. 

In the meanwhile, Shri Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge, Judge of the High Court of Bombay, has been appointed to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay consequent upon the elevation of Shri Justice Shree Chandrashekhar.

The Central Government has officially notified their appointment following the recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on May 22 and May 27. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointments, confirming the elevation of four sitting Chief Justices of High Courts along with Senior Advocate V. Mohana, who practises before the Supreme Court. 

The appointment of Senior Advocate V. Mohana is especially notable as it will strengthen the representation of women in the Supreme Court, which at present has only one woman judge, Justice BV Nagarathna. Significantly, no woman has been appointed to the Supreme Court since August 2021.

The notification also comes against the backdrop of a recent increase in the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. At present, the Court has 32 judges, and two more vacancies are expected to arise soon with the retirement of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Pankaj Mithal in June. 

The official circular issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice records the appointment under  the constitutional power granted by  Article 124(2). It states  that the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, has appointed the above-named judges as judges of  the Supreme Court of India.  The circular reads:

“ In exercise of the power conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President of India, after consultation with Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint the following as Judges of the Supreme Court of India. I convey my best wishes to them:- ”

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