Three chief justices of high courts have been appointed by the President to the Supreme Court as judges.
In a span of two days, the names of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma, Augustine George Masih, and Sandeep Mehta were cleared by the Center after the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, recommended on November 7 that these three high court Chief Justices be elevated to the position of judges of the highest court.
“The Swearing-in-Ceremony of Hon’ble Mr Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi, Hon’ble Mr Justice Augustine George Masih, Chief Justice, High Court of Rajasthan and Hon’ble Mr Justice Sandeep Mehta, Chief Justice, Gauhati High Court as Judges of the Supreme Court of India is proposed to be held on Thursday 9 November, 2023 at 4.15 P.M. in the Auditorium, 3rd Floor,”C” Block, Additional Building Complex, Supreme Court Premises,” read a circular issued by the apex court.
Following the inauguration of three new justices, the Supreme Court will have 34 justices total when all are sworn in.
On January 18, 2008, Justice Sharma was named a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. On October 11, 2021, he was promoted to Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. On June 28, 2022, he was transferred to the Delhi High Court. For over 15 years, Justice Sharma has been a judge on the High Court, and for over two years, he has held the position of Chief Justice.
On July 10, 2008, Justice Masih was named a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On May 30, he was promoted to Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court.
On May 30, 2011, Justice Mehta was named a judge of the Rajasthan High Court. He was promoted to the position of Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on February 15 after gaining seniority in his parent high court. He has over 12 years of experience as a high court judge.
