The Supreme Court of India has been fortified to its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges as Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Augustine George Masih, and Sandeep Mehta took their oaths of office. The ceremony, presided over by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, was a significant event, marking the swift elevation of these judges following the Supreme Court collegium’s recommendations on November 6, which were promptly cleared by the Central Government.
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Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, who hails from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, was acknowledged by the collegium as
“the second-most senior judge across the country and the most senior from the Madhya Pradesh High Court.”
His elevation is seen as a move to
“enhance the representation in the top court of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which currently has only one judge from there.”
Justice Augustine George Masih, with his roots in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was recognized for his extensive legal experience. The collegium noted,
“During his long tenure as a judge of the High Court, Justice Masih has acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law. Before his elevation, he practised in Constitutional, service, labour, and civil matters.”
His seniority and his status as a member of a minority community were also considered pivotal in his elevation.
Justice Sandeep Mehta, the most senior judge from the Rajasthan High Court, was chosen to fill the gap left by the retirement of Justice Ajay Rastogi. The collegium resolution stated,
“Apart from according representation to the State of Rajasthan, the appointment of Justice Mehta will provide a value addition in terms of his acquired knowledge and experience.”
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The Supreme Court Collegium, in its resolution, emphasized the critical need for a full-strength court, stating,
“The Supreme Court has a huge backlog of cases, which has increased the workload of judges considerably and which necessitated a full-strength court.”
This sentiment underscores the urgency and importance of these appointments.
With the Supreme Court now operating at full capacity, there is a renewed sense of readiness to tackle the extensive backlog of cases. The diverse backgrounds and the wealth of experience that the new justices bring to the bench are expected to contribute significantly to the judiciary’s efforts to deliver justice efficiently and effectively.
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