Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 30: In a significant development for India’s judiciary, the Supreme Court of India on Friday reached its sanctioned full strength of 34 judges as three new members were sworn in during a brief ceremony held in the apex court.
Chief Justice of India BR Gavai administered the oath of office to:
• Justice NV Anjaria, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court
• Justice Vijay Bishnoi, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court
• Justice Atul S Chandurkar, Judge of the Bombay High Court
Notably, Justice Bishnoi took his oath in Hindi, adding a rare linguistic note to the solemn occasion. The entire ceremony lasted less than 10 minutes and was attended by sitting Supreme Court judges, senior advocates, and court staff.
The three appointments follow the retirement of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justice Abhay S Oka, which had created vacancies on the bench. The Supreme Court Collegium, led by CJI Gavai, had recommended the trio on May 26, and the Central Government promptly issued their appointment notifications on Thursday.
Justice NV Anjaria
Began his legal journey in 1988 at the Gujarat High Court under senior advocate SN Shelat. Known for handling constitutional and service matters, he served as standing counsel for several state bodies including the Gujarat High Court and State Election Commission. He was appointed an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court in 2011 and became a permanent judge in 2013. He was elevated as the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court in February 2024.
Justice Vijay Bishnoi
Enrolled as an advocate in July 1989, he practiced at the Rajasthan High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal in Jodhpur. He has experience in civil, criminal, and constitutional law. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel. Appointed an Additional Judge of the Rajasthan High Court in 2013, he became permanent in 2015 and was elevated as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court in February 2024.
Justice Atul S Chandurkar
Started his practice in 1988 and later moved to Nagpur where he handled a wide spectrum of cases. He is also an author of two legal texts: The Maharashtra Municipal Council Act, 1965 and The Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999. He was appointed an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in June 2013.
With this, the apex court returns to its full bench strength of 34 judges — a move that is expected to aid in faster disposal of pending cases and enhance overall judicial efficiency. The next scheduled retirement is of Justice Bela M Trivedi on June 9, following which a new vacancy will open.