Meet Three New Supreme Court Judges: Know about their Careers, Big Cases and Appointment Process

The Supreme Court of India is set to get three new judges, taking its working strength to 37, just one short of its sanctioned strength of 38. The appointments of Justice Sunita Agarwal, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh were announced on October 5 by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The three judges were earlier serving as Chief Justices of the Gujarat, Delhi and Telangana High Courts respectively. Their elevation follows a recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium on September 28, 2026, which was subsequently approved by the government and the President.

Who Are the Three New SC Judges?

Justice Sunita Agarwal, Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, was originally from the Allahabad High Court. Her elevation will strengthen the representation of women in the Supreme Court. She will become the court's third woman judge, alongside Justices B.V. Nagarathna and V. Mohan.

Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, also began his judicial career at the Allahabad High Court. He was appointed a judge there in 2011 and subsequently served as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before taking charge of the Delhi High Court.

Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, began his judicial career in the Jharkhand High Court. He later served as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court before being appointed to head the Telangana High Court.

Appointment Process of SC Judge

Under Article 124 of the Constitution, Supreme Court judges are formally appointed by the President. The process is initiated by the Chief Justice of India, who consults the Supreme Court Collegium comprising the CJI and four senior-most judges. The Collegium recommends a name, which is sent to the Union Law Ministry for processing. The Law Minister places the recommendation before the Prime Minister, who advises the President on the appointment. The President then issues the formal warrant of appointment.

Supreme Court Strength Reaches 37

The appointments come after Parliament increased the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court. Earlier, the court had a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026 increased the strength to 38, including the CJI.

The government had said the expansion was intended to improve the court's efficiency and help ensure faster disposal of cases. The Union Cabinet had earlier approved increasing the number of Supreme Court judges by four, from 33 to 37 excluding the Chief Justice of India.

Only One Vacancy Remains

Once the three judges formally take oath, the Supreme Court will have 37 serving judges against a sanctioned strength of 38. This leaves only one vacancy in the country's highest court.

The latest appointments are significant not only for filling vacancies but also for strengthening the court's judicial capacity and diversity. Justice Agarwal's elevation, in particular, increases the number of women judges on the Supreme Court and marks another step in improving gender representation at the apex level of India's judiciary.