The Supreme Court of India has welcomed three new judges, with Justices Sunita Agarwal, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Aparesh Kumar Singh taking oath of office on Tuesday. All three took the oath in the name of God, taking the court’s working strength to 37 judges against a sanctioned strength of 38.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant administered the oath at a ceremony held at the Supreme Court on October 6. The appointments followed recommendations by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the CJI, on September 28. The Centre notified the appointments on October 5 after President Droupadi Murmu approved them.
The elevation of Justice Sunita Agarwal has also increased the number of women judges in the country’s highest court to three out of its current 37 judges. She joins Justices B.V. Nagarathna and V. Mohana, taking the court closer to greater gender representation on the Bench.
Who Are the Three New Supreme Court Judges?
Justice Sunita Agarwal was serving as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court before her elevation. She began her judicial career at the Allahabad High Court, where she was appointed an additional judge in November 2011 and became a permanent judge in August 2013. She took charge as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in July 2023.
Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, who was Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court before his elevation, began his judicial career after enrolling as an advocate in May 1991. He served as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court from July 2023 before being transferred to the Delhi High Court in January 2025.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was serving as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. He was elevated to the Jharkhand High Court in 2012 and subsequently served as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court before taking charge in Telangana in July 2025.
Supreme Court One Judge Short of Full Strength
With the appointment of the three judges, the Supreme Court’s working strength has risen to 37, leaving one vacancy against its sanctioned strength of 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The appointments are expected to add to the court’s capacity to hear cases across constitutional, civil and criminal law. The increase in the number of women judges also brings renewed attention to women’s representation in the higher judiciary.
The three judges will now participate in the Supreme Court’s judicial work, hearing cases and contributing to decisions on matters of national and constitutional importance.
