New Delhi, August 29, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India has regained its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges, following the recent elevation of two new judges — Justice Aradhe and Justice Pancholi — whose appointments were cleared by the Central government.
The recommendation to elevate the two judges was made by the Collegium led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, and comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice J.K. Maheshwari, and Justice B.V. Nagarathna.
While this restores the numerical strength of the apex court, the gender disparity remains stark, with Justice B.V. Nagarathna continuing to be the only woman on the Bench. Her presence alone underscores the long-standing concerns regarding female representation in the higher judiciary.
Recent Elevations & Appointments
On August 27, the Collegium recommended the elevation of Justice Aradhe and Justice Pancholi to the Supreme Court. These appointments were cleared by the Central Government on the same day.
Earlier, on May 30, three new judges — Justice N. V. Anjaria, Justice Vijay Bishnoi, and Justice A.S. Chandurkar — were appointed by the President after the Collegium’s recommendation. They took their oaths on May 31, restoring the Court to the full complement of 34 judges.
Notably, Justice Joymalya Bagchi was sworn in earlier, on March 17, 2025, further contributing to the bench’s expansion.
Gender Representation Matters
Despite the Court being at full strength, the fact that Justice B.V. Nagarathna stands alone as the only female judge is a poignant reflection of ongoing structural challenges. Her presence underscores both the strides made and the long road ahead in achieving greater inclusivity in the highest echelons of India's judiciary.
Full Roster of the Supreme Court (As of August 29, 2025)
- Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai
- Justice Surya Kant
- Justice Vikram Nath
- Justice J.K. Maheshwari
- Justice B.V. Nagarathna
- Justice M.M. Sundresh
- Justice P.S. Narasimha
- Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia
- Justice J.B. Pardiwala
- Justice Dipankar Datta
- Justice Pankaj Mithal
- Justice Sanjay Karol
- Justice Sanjay Kumar
- Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah
- Justice Manoj Misra
- Justice Rajesh Bindal
- Justice Aravind Kumar
- Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra
- Justice K.V. Viswanathan
- Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
- Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti
- Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
- Justice Augustine George Masih
- Justice Sandeep Mehta
- Justice Prasanna B. Varale
- Justice N. V. Anjaria
- Justice Vijay Bishnoi
- Justice A.S. Chandurkar
- Justice Joymalya Bagchi
- Justice K. Vinod Chandran
- Justice Aradhe
- Justice Pancholi
Significance
Legal experts have welcomed the appointments that bring the Court to its full capacity of 34 judges but have renewed calls for improving gender balance, not just in appointments but through structural reforms in the judicial pipeline. Notably, Justice B.V. Nagarathna is on track to become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2025 — a symbolic milestone in an otherwise male-dominated institution.