Overview

• Chief Justice B.R. Gavai administered the oath on August 29 to Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul M. Pancholi, bringing the Supreme Court to its sanctioned complement of 34 judges.
• The five-judge collegium recommended their elevation on August 25 and the Centre notified the appointments on August 27 following consultation with the CJI.
• Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued a written dissent opposing Justice Pancholi’s elevation, citing his all-India seniority position, questions around his 2023 transfer from Gujarat to Patna, and the risk to the collegium’s credibility as he enters the line of succession for CJI in 2031.
• According to reports citing apex court sources, the collegium sought written inputs from Justices Vinod Chandran and Ahsanuddin Amanullah with Patna High Court experience who backed Pancholi, and the recommendation was cleared 4–1.
• In the same round, the Centre approved 14 advocates as Additional Judges of the Bombay High Court for two years, expanding that court’s working strength.