The Supreme Court of India is once again functioning at its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges as Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi are sworn in today, August 29, 2025. The swearing-in ceremony is being held in the Supreme Court’s premises, where Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai is administering the oath of office. The proceedings are being live-streamed on the Supreme Court’s official website.
The appointments come just days after the Supreme Court Collegium, in a meeting on August 25, recommended the elevation of the two judges. The Central Government subsequently cleared the appointments on August 27. With these elevations, the vacancies in the apex court have been filled.
Justice Alok Aradhe previously served as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Bombay. Born on April 13, 1964, in Raipur, he has also been the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court and has served as a judge in the Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts.
Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, born on May 28, 1968, was the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. His elevation has been a subject of discussion due to a dissent registered by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, a member of the five-judge Collegium. Reports indicate that Justice Nagarathna’s dissent was based on Justice Pancholi’s seniority ranking and the circumstances of his transfer from the Gujarat High Court to the Patna High Court in July 2023. Despite the dissent, the Collegium recommended his name by a 4:1 majority. Justice Pancholi is in line to become the Chief Justice of India in October 2031.
