The Supreme Court of India gets 4 new judges as Aniruddha Bose, AS Bopanna, Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, and Surya Kant have been sworn in, thereby taking the total to the maximum strength of 31The Supreme Court collegium had earlier received concerns from the Centre regarding two of the proposed members Aniruddha Bose of Jharkhand, and AS Bopanna of Gauhati, as the government stated that it did not wish the elevation of these two judges due to their seniority which would lead to health issues and render them incapable of working with full efficiency. members for the first time in five years.
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Center had earlier cited concerns over health of members
However, the Collegium re-voted on the same proposal and sent it back overruling the Center’s objections, upon which the Center was forced to accept the proposal, and the 4 new members were sworn in. The recommendation had been sent on April 12, just before the General Elections had started.
The Government has clashed with the Supreme Court earlier last year as well
Earlier last year, the government had refused to clear the name of one Justice KM Joseph for the Supreme Court nomination, citing that his age was a concern. However, at that time as well, the Supreme Court had re-passed the resolution and sent it to the Center, upon which it was ratified by the government.
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The five member Collegium headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has selected the candidates based on their experience and expertise in the handling of all matters pertaining to the law. Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is all set to be the Chief Justice of the country in 2025. This will make him the third Dalit Chief Justice of India in the history of the Supreme Court. The appointments were also made in an attempt to ensure that all High Courts can be given a representation on the bench as far as possible. Justice Gavai is a judge in the Bombay High Court and Justice Kant is the incumbent Chief Justice in the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
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The judges are likely to be sworn in sometime after the election results are declared on 23rd May 2019.