Centre Appoints Two Judges to Supreme Court
The Central government has officially appointed Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as judges of the Supreme Court of India. The appointments were notified less than 48 hours after the Supreme Court collegium’s recommendation.
Collegium Recommendation and Court Strength
The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai, had recommended the elevations on August 25. If both appointments take effect, the Supreme Court will operate at its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
Internal Dissent Over Pancholi’s Elevation
Notably, Justice B. V. Nagarathna—the lone woman member of the collegium—recorded a rare written dissent against Justice Pancholi’s elevation. She cited his relatively low seniority, contested circumstances surrounding his earlier transfer, and concerns about regional representation as reasons for her objection.
Pancholi Poised for Future Leadership
If elevated, Justice Pancholi is expected to eventually serve as Chief Justice of India, projected to hold that position from late 2031 to mid-2033, based on seniority.
