The Supreme Court on Monday achieved its full strength after two new judges Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Aravind Kumar were administered oath as Supreme Court judges.
The top court, last time had its full strength on May 9 ,2022 when Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice JB Pardiwala took oath. However, the very next day Justice Vineet Saran retired.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud administered the oath of the office to Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Aravind Kumar.
The Collegium had recommended the two judges be elevated to Supreme Court on January 31, 2023.
In March 2006, Justice Rajesh Bindal was appointed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and in October 2021, he was named Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
He was scheduled to leave office in April of this year at the age of 62, but due to his elevation to the Supreme Court, he now has three more years in service.
In terms of seniority, Justice Bindal is the second most senior judge among High Court judges in the country.
While recommending his candidature, the Collegium also noted that the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is Justice Bindal’s parent High Court and one of the largest High Courts in the country, is underrepresented in the Supreme Court.
In June 2009, Justice Aravind Kumar was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court, and in December 2012, he was confirmed as a permanent judge. In October 2021, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
Justice Kumar was born on July 14, 1962, and would turn 61 in July 2023.
In terms of seniority, Justice Kumar is currently the 26th senior-most Judge among High Court Judges.
Last week five judges took oath as Supreme Court judges after their elevation.
These names were Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Sanjay Karol, Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Manoj Misra.
