The Central government has approved the appointment of five distinguished legal professionals as judges of the Supreme Court of India, a significant move aimed at strengthening the judiciary. This announcement was made by the Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, through a post on X, previously known as Twitter, earlier today.
This decision follows the recent amendment that increased the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges through an ordinance issued by the government. With these new appointments, the Supreme Court now has 37 of its seats filled.
The appointees include Senior Advocate V Mohana and four High Court Chief Justices: Justice Sheel Nagu, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, and Justice Arun Palli. These recommendations were made by the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, just last week.
Justice Sheel Nagu
Justice Sheel Nagu, previously the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, will now serve on the Supreme Court. His tenure in the judiciary began with his appointment as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in May 2011. He was later made a permanent judge in May 2013. Justice Nagu, who was born on January 1, 1965, has a rich background in civil, constitutional, and service law. He played a pivotal role in high-profile cases involving environmental issues and personal liberties. Notably, he was part of the inquiry into the cash-at-residence controversy involving Justice Yashwant Varma. Justice Nagu will serve until December 31, 2029.
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar has been serving as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and hails from the Jharkhand High Court. Born on May 25, 1965, in Ranchi, he holds a law degree from Delhi University. He joined the judiciary as an additional judge of the Jharkhand High Court in 2013 and became a permanent judge in 2014. His judicial career includes significant rulings in cases such as the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter and the Malegaon blasts. Justice Chandrashekhar’s appointment is especially significant as it provides Jharkhand with representation in the Supreme Court. He will retire on May 24, 2030.
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Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, previously the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, will now serve as a Supreme Court judge. With a legal career starting in Delhi, he was designated a Senior Advocate in 2011 and became a Delhi High Court judge in 2013. Justice Sachdeva, born on December 26, 1964, has a notable tenure as the Bar Council of India’s standing counsel, contributing to the judiciary’s human resource development. He will serve in the Supreme Court for approximately three-and-a-half years.
Justice Arun Palli
Justice Arun Palli, the former Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, also joins the Supreme Court. With roots in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he was born on September 18, 1964, in Patiala. His legal career includes serving as Additional Advocate General for Punjab and contributing significantly to legal services and dispute resolution initiatives. Justice Palli’s tenure in the Supreme Court will span a little over three years.
Senior Advocate V Mohana
Senior Advocate V Mohana makes history as the second woman to be directly elevated from the Bar to the Supreme Court, following Justice Indu Malhotra. Born on June 27, 1966, Mohana’s career includes significant cases such as the permanent commission for women officers in the armed forces. Her direct elevation provides her a tenure until June 2031, making her the 12th woman judge in the Supreme Court’s history.
