Overview

• The President appointed Justices Aradhe and Pancholi after consultation with the CJI, the law minister announced, two days after the collegium’s August 25 recommendation.
• Once they take oath, the Supreme Court returns to its sanctioned strength of 34 judges, up from 32 following recent retirements.
• Justice Vipul M. Pancholi would be in line to become Chief Justice of India in October 2031, with a tenure projected through May 27, 2033.
• Justice B.V. Nagarathna dissented from Pancholi’s recommendation, citing his all‑India seniority ranking and Gujarat’s existing representation on the bench, along with concerns over his 2023 transfer.
• Alongside the elevations, the collegium recommended transfers of 14 high court judges as part of its ongoing effort to rebalance benches and address vacancies.