CJI Surya Kant Administers Oath to Five New Supreme Court Judges as Court Strength Expands

June 2, 2026 : Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday administered the oath of office to five newly appointed judges of the Supreme Court, marking a significant expansion of the apex court’s judicial strength. The new judges include Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva and Arun Palli, along with senior advocate V. Mohana.

The appointments were cleared by the Union government following recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium during its meetings held on May 22 and May 27. The Collegium had proposed the elevation of four Chief Justices of High Courts and senior advocate V. Mohana to the country’s highest court.

A day before the swearing-in ceremony, the Centre formally approved the appointments. Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal announced on social media that the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, had appointed the five individuals as judges of the Supreme Court.

The induction of the new judges comes at a crucial time for the judiciary, as the Supreme Court continues to deal with a substantial caseload. Their elevation is expected to strengthen the court’s capacity to hear and dispose of matters more efficiently.

The oath ceremony also follows recent legislative action aimed at increasing the strength of the apex court. Weeks earlier, President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, providing for an increase in the sanctioned number of Supreme Court judges. The move is intended to address growing judicial workloads and improve the administration of justice.

With the addition of the five judges, the Supreme Court takes another step toward operating at its enhanced sanctioned strength, reinforcing its ability to handle a rising volume of constitutional, civil and criminal matters from across the country.