The CJI-led Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Pancholi as judges of the Supreme Court, filling crucial vacancies.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as judges of the Supreme Court of India. The Collegium that made the recommendation comprised Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, JK Maheshwari, and BV Nagarathna.
Currently, the Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges but is functioning with 32 judges, leaving two vacancies after the recent retirements of Justices Bela Trivedi and Sudhanshu Dhulia.
Justice Alok Aradhe
Justice Alok Aradhe began his judicial career as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2009, before being confirmed as a permanent judge in 2011.
- In 2016, he was transferred to the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, where he also served as Acting Chief Justice for three months in 2018.
- Later, he was appointed to the Karnataka High Court on November 17, 2018, and briefly served as its Acting Chief Justice in 2022.
- In July 2023, Justice Aradhe was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.
- In January 2025, he was transferred to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, a position he currently holds.
His wide-ranging judicial experience across multiple High Courts makes him a strong candidate for elevation to the Supreme Court.
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Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi
Justice Vipul Pancholi, originally from the Gujarat High Court, was born on May 28, 1968. He enrolled with the Bar in September 1991 and practiced as an advocate in the Gujarat High Court before being elevated to the Bench.
- He was appointed as an additional judge of the Gujarat High Court on October 1, 2014, and confirmed as a permanent judge on June 10, 2016.
- In July 2023, he was transferred to the Patna High Court, where he took charge as its Chief Justice.
- His transfer had sparked controversy as the Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA) opposed it, highlighting his judicial acumen and integrity. They emphasized that Justice Pancholi had disposed of over 35,000 matters during his tenure, showcasing his efficiency.
- Despite the opposition, the transfer was carried out, and he has since been serving in Patna with distinction.
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