New appointments to Supreme Court: Chief Justice of India swears in two judges

With the addition of Justices Bhuyan and Bhatti, the Supreme Court's judge count reaches 32 out of the authorized 34, including the Chief Justice of India.

By Admin Skynews Jul 14, 2023, 12:46 IST

New Delhi Latest Updates: Today, in New Delhi, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud officiated the oath-taking ceremony for Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti, as they were appointed as judges of the Supreme Court. With their induction, the total number of judges in the Supreme Court has increased to 32 out of the approved strength of 34, which includes the CJI. The ceremony took place at the Supreme Court's auditorium.

The Indian government approved the nominations of Justice Bhuyan, former Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, and Justice Bhatti, former Chief Justice of Kerala, as judges of the Supreme Court on July 12. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal made the announcement regarding their elevation on Wednesday. The recommendation for their appointment as Supreme Court judges was made by the Supreme Court collegium, led by the Chief Justice of India, on July 5.

Justice Bhuyan, born on August 2, 1964, served as a judge of the Gauhati High Court starting from October 17, 2011, and held the position of senior-most judge in his parent High Court. He assumed the role of Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court on June 28, 2022. His extensive tenure as a High Court judge has provided him with valuable expertise across various areas of law, particularly in taxation. He has also served as a judge in the Bombay High Court, presiding over a wide range of cases, including those related to taxation.

The collegium's resolution, available on the Supreme Court's website, highlighted Justice Bhuyan's significant contributions to the field of law and justice, covering diverse legal issues. He is known for his integrity, competence, and commendable reputation as a judge.

Justice Bhatti, born on May 6, 1962, was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on April 12, 2013, and held the position of the most senior judge in his parent high court. Notably, the resolution by the collegium highlighted that the High Court of Andhra Pradesh has lacked representation in the Supreme Court since August 2022.

In March 2019, Justice Bhatti was transferred to the High Court of Kerala, where he served as the chief justice from June 1, 2023. Throughout his extensive tenure as a judge in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and subsequently as a judge and Chief Justice in the High Court of Kerala, Justice Bhatti gained substantial experience in various fields of law.

The collegium resolution emphasized that Justice Bhatti's authored judgments, which encompassed a wide range of legal areas, showcased his legal expertise and competence. Apart from providing representation to the state of Andhra Pradesh, Justice Bhatti's appointment brings valuable knowledge and experience to the Supreme Court. He is esteemed for his reputation, integrity, and competence as a judge.