The Supreme Court on Monday got five new judges who were administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud. With fresh appointments, the total number of judges in the apex court has risen to 32, just two less than its full strength.
The newly appointed SC judges are: Justices Pankaj Mithal, Sanjay Karol, PV Sanjay Kumar, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Manoj Misra. The elevation ceremony of the judges was held in the Supreme Court premises.
The judges were recommended for elevation as Supreme Court judges by the Collegium on December 13, 2022.
The appointment of all 5 judges was announced by Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on February 4, even as the Centre vs Collegium rift continues over the process of elevation of judges.
The apex court and the government have openly expressed their differences over the Collegium system of appointment of judges in the higher judiciary.
Last month, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju backed retired judge Justice RS Sodhi's earlier remarks that the Supreme Court had hijacked the constitution by deciding to appoint judges itself.
"... whether you can amend the Constitution? Only Parliament will amend Constitution. But here I feel the Supreme Court for the first time 'hijacked' the Constitution. After 'hijacking' they (SC) said that we will appoint (judges) ourselves and the government will have no role in it," Justice Sodhi had said in an interview.
Prior to that, Kiren Rijiju in a letter to the CJI suggested the inclusion of the Union government's representatives in the SC collegium.
(With inputs from PTI)
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