New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday got back its full strength of 34 judges after the Centre cleared the appointments of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Aravind Kumar.
A few days ago, the apex court had got five more judges.
New appointees Rajesh Bindal and Aravind Kumar are the Chief Justices of Allahabad and Gujarat High Courts, respectively.
Announcing the appointments, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted: “As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President of India has appointed the following Chief Justices of High Courts as Judges of the Supreme Court. My best to them. 1. Rajesh Bindal, Chief Justice, Allahabad HC. 2. Aravind Kumar, Chief Justice, Gujarat HC.”
The Supreme Court Collegium – the five senior-most justices, including the Chief Justice of India, who decide on judges’ appointments — had forwarded the names of these two justices to the Centre on 31 January.
Earlier this week, five new justices took oath, bringing the apex court’s strength up to 32 from 27. They were Pankaj Mithal, chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Sanjay Karol, chief justice of the Patna High Court, P.V. Sanjay Kumar, chief justice of Manipur High Court, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, a Patna High Court judge, and Manoj Misra of the Allahabad HC.
Though the common resolution to elevate the five was sent in December, the central government gave its green signal to the appointments only last Thursday.
Judicial appointments have long been a bone of contention between the executive and the judiciary, with both sides recently hardening their stances. While Rijiju has called the Collegium system “vague” and “alien”, the apex court has retorted back saying it is the “law of the land” which should be followed to the teeth”.
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