US EditionJustices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi elevated as judges of Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of India will operate with its full complement of 34 judges following the appointments of Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Pancholi, filling two longstanding vacancies.
- On August 27, 2025, the Government of India appointed Chief Justices Alok Aradhe of Bombay High Court and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi of Patna High Court as Supreme Court judges.
- This appointment followed a Supreme Court Collegium recommendation made on August 25, which saw a 4-1 split decision over Justice Pancholi's elevation amid controversy.
- Justice Pancholi, born in Ahmedabad in 1968, was transferred in July 2023 from his position at the Gujarat High Court to join the Patna High Court, where he later assumed the role of Chief Justice in July 2025 prior to his elevation.
- Justice BV Nagarathna dissented strongly against Pancholi's elevation, citing his lower seniority, concerns about regional representation, and warning it could erode collegium credibility.
- With these appointments, the Supreme Court will resume its full strength of 34 judges, and Justice Pancholi is expected to be in line to become Chief Justice of India in October 2031.
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18 Articles
SC gets 2 new judges, Justice Pancholi set to be CJI in 2031 despite dissent in collegium
Justice Pancholi is 57th in the all-India seniority list of high court judges..Supreme Court judges, Justice Alok Aradhe, Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Collegium dissent, Judicial appointments, Regional representation in Supreme Court, Supreme Court collegium, Justice B V Nagarathna dissent, Transparency in judicial appointments, Chief Justice of India, Future Chief Justice of India, Supreme Court judge appointments process, Collegium system …
Two new judges will be appointed in the Supreme Court. President Draupadi Murmu approved the appointment of CJ Vipul Manubhai Pancholi of Patna High Court and CJ Alok Aradhe of Mumbai High Court. After this, the full strength of the Supreme Court will be 34 judges. However, Justice BV Nagarathna expressed disagreement with the collegium's decision regarding regional balance and transparency.
President Droupadi Murmu Appoints Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi As Supreme Court Judges
The President of India on Wednesday appointed Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as Judges of the Supreme Court. This significant decision follows the recommendation made earlier this week by the Supreme Court Collegium, which is headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. President Droupadi Murmu Appoints Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubha…
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