Full Breakdown
Three New Judges Sworn In, Raising India’s Supreme Court Bench to 37
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Oath Ceremony Elevates Three Judges
On October 6, 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant administered the oath of office to Justices Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Aparesh Kumar Singh. The ceremony, held in the new Supreme Court block in New Delhi, brought the court’s working strength to 37 judges, one short of the sanctioned complement of 38.
Background & Context: Collegium Recommendation and Court Strength
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by CJI Kant and comprising Justices Vikram Nath, B.V. Nagarathna, M.M. Sundresh and P.S. Narasimha, recommended the three appointments on September 28, 2026. The Centre notified the elevations on October 5, 2026, and President Droupadi Murmu approved the appointments after verification by the Ministry of Law and Justice. The sanctioned strength of the apex court was increased from 34 to 38 judges earlier in 2026, but the bench remains one seat vacant.
Key Figures & Groups
- Sunita Agarwal — Former Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court; originally a judge of the Allahabad High Court; law graduate of Awadh University (1989).
- Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya — Former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court; previously Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court; alumnus of Lucknow University; former chief standing counsel for Uttar Pradesh.
- Aparesh Kumar Singh — Former Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court; began his judicial career in the Jharkhand High Court; law graduate of the University of Delhi.
- Surya Kant — Chief Justice of India, who presided over the oath ceremony.
- Arjun Ram Meghwal — Union Law Minister, who announced the appointments on X.
Timeline of Appointments
- September 28, 2026: Collegium recommends the three names.
- October 5, 2026: Centre notifies the appointments.
- October 6, 2026: Oath ceremony conducted; judges assume office.
Data & Statistics
- Working strength: 37 judges (including the CJI).
- Sanctioned strength: 38 judges.
- Women judges: Increased from two to three; Justice B.V. Nagarathna is senior enough to become the first woman CJI in 2027.
- Pendency: Approximately one lakh cases pending in the Supreme Court at the time of the swearing-in.
- Parent High Courts: Two judges (Agarwal and Upadhyaya) hail from the Allahabad High Court, raising its representation to four judges on the bench; Singh’s parent High Court is Jharkhand.
Official Statements & Responses
President Droupadi Murmu cleared the appointments after the file was forwarded by the Ministry of Law and Justice. CJI Surya Kant oversaw the oath-taking, marking a departure from the usual morning schedule by holding the ceremony in the afternoon.
Why It Matters
The elevation of three high-court chief justices restores the Supreme Court’s bench to near-full capacity, potentially easing the backlog of roughly one lakh pending cases. The increase in women judges to three strengthens gender representation on the apex court and positions Justice B.V. Nagarathna for a historic tenure as the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027. The concentration of judges with roots in the Allahabad High Court—now four on the Supreme Court—highlights that court’s continued influence in the nation’s highest judicial body.