The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has approved the appointment of several judges across various High Courts, following the guidelines of Article 217 of the Constitution. Key appointments include Justice G.S. Sandhawalia as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh and several judges from Karnataka and Delhi elevated to Permanent Judges.
Today, On 20th December, The Uttar Pradesh government told the Allahabad High Court that Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of Alt News, posted messages on X with “half-baked information” about Yati Narsinghanand’s speech. The state said these posts “harmed India’s sovereignty and integrity” and aimed to incite violence while encouraging separatist feelings. Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal shared these claims before Justices Siddhartha Varma and Nalin Kumar Srivastava.
Justice R. Mahadevan, born on June 10, 1963, in Chennai, was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court in 2013 and became a Permanent Judge in 2015. He transitioned to the Supreme Court, marking a significant milestone as the first Chief Justice of the Madras High Court elevated in six years.
Justice NK Singh, born on March 1, 1963, in Imphal, Manipur, assumed office as a Supreme Court judge on July 18, 2024, marking a milestone as Manipur’s first judge in the Supreme Court. His judicial career includes significant roles in various high courts and notable rulings in cases related to nationality and citizenship.
Justice Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale, born June 23, 1962, has had a distinguished legal career, beginning in 1985 and serving in various capacities, including as a law lecturer and Additional Judge at the Bombay High Court. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court in 2022 and was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2024.
Justice Sandeep Mehta, born on January 11, 1963, became a Supreme Court judge on November 9, 2023. He has extensive legal experience, having practiced in criminal and constitutional law. Notable judgments include the establishment of a Transgender Welfare Board in Assam and overturning a wrongful dowry death conviction. He served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court prior to his elevation.
Justice Augustine George Masih, born on March 12, 1963, in Punjab, was appointed as a Supreme Court Judge on November 9, 2023, after a distinguished legal career. Previously serving as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, his notable judgments include granting interim bail in a caste-related case and ordering the clearance of a blocked national highway.
Justice S.V. Bhatti, born on May 6, 1962, assumed office as a Supreme Court Judge on July 14, 2023, following his career in law and judicial service, including roles in various High Courts. His elevation emphasizes regional representation, particularly from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He will retire on May 5, 2027.
Justice M.M. Sundresh, born on July 21, 1962, is a Supreme Court judge since August 31, 2021, with a retirement scheduled for January 5, 2025. He had a notable legal career, practicing at the High Court of Madras and serving as a Government Advocate. He efficiently disposed of over 103,000 cases during his tenure.
As of November 21, 2024, India’s judiciary faces severe challenges with 5,200 unfilled positions and 4.53 crore pending cases. The Supreme Court has two vacancies while High Courts have 364, predominantly in Allahabad. Initiatives to translate judgments into regional languages aim to improve access to legal resources amidst these issues.