Three High Court Chief Justices Elevated to Supreme Court, Working Strength Rises to 37

The Central government on Monday appointed the Chief Justices of the Gujarat, Delhi and Telangana High Courts to the Supreme Court, raising the court's working strength to 37 against its sanctioned strength of 38.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointments in a post on X. The three judges — Justice Sunita Agarwal, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh — are scheduled to be sworn in on October 6.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their elevation on September 28. Under Article 124 of the Constitution, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President on the advice of the Collegium, which is headed by the Chief Justice of India and includes the senior-most judges of the court.

Justice Sunita Agarwal is originally from the Allahabad High Court. She has served as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court for around three years, having taken charge in July 2023. As a judge of the Supreme Court, she is due to retire in April 2031.

Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya became a judge in 2011 after serving as Uttar Pradesh's Chief Standing Counsel. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in July 2023 and was transferred to the Delhi High Court in January 2025.

Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh practised before the Patna and Jharkhand High Courts before becoming a judge in 2012. He served as Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court before taking charge as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court in July 2025.

All three judges were serving as Chief Justices of their respective High Courts at the time of their elevation. The move follows the Collegium's recommendation and the government's clearance of the same, completing the constitutional process for appointment to the apex court.

The Supreme Court's sanctioned strength has been raised by Parliament over the years as its caseload has grown. Judges of the Supreme Court hold office until they attain the age of 65. With the three appointments, the court will function with 37 judges, leaving one vacancy to be filled.

Elevations from the High Courts are closely watched, as the composition of the Supreme Court shapes the benches that hear matters of constitutional and national importance. The Collegium's recommendations and the government's response to them form part of a process that has been the subject of public debate over the years, with questions raised about the pace of appointments and the number of vacancies across the higher judiciary.

The three judges will take the oath on October 6, after which they will begin hearing matters alongside the sitting judges. The vacancy that remains will be filled in accordance with the same process, on the recommendation of the Collegium.