Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Five Names for Elevation to SC Judges
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, recommended the elevation of five names as judges of the Supreme Court of India — comprising four sitting Chief Justices of various High Courts and one senior advocate. The recommendations now go to the Centre for approval. The move aims to fill existing vacancies in the apex court, which has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges (including the CJI).
Key Facts & Details
8 points- 1Collegium recommends 5 names — 4 HC Chief Justices + 1 senior advocate
- 2Sanctioned strength of Supreme Court: 34 judges including CJI
- 3Recommendations sent to the Centre for approval
Deep Dive
- +The Collegium System emerged from the Three Judges Cases (1981, 1993, 1998)
- +SC Collegium = CJI + 4 senior-most SC judges
- +Article 124 governs appointment of Supreme Court judges
- +Article 217 governs appointment of High Court judges
- +The NJAC Act (2014) was struck down by SC in 2015 in the Fourth Judges Case
Exam Focus
Likely MCQ: What is the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India (including CJI)? → Answer: 34
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
Judiciary, Collegium System and constitutional articles are repeat questions for UPSC, SSC and Banking exams.
Target Exams
Background & Context
The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land, established under Article 124 of the Constitution. Its sanctioned strength was raised to 34 judges (including the CJI) by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019.
Appointments to the Supreme Court are made by the President under Article 124(2). The Collegium System — not mentioned in the Constitution but evolved through judicial interpretation — comprises the CJI plus the four senior-most Supreme Court judges.
The Collegium System originated from the Three Judges Cases:
• First Judges Case (1981) — gave Executive primacy
• Second Judges Case (1993) — established the Collegium
• Third Judges Case (1998) — expanded to CJI + 4 senior-most judges
The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 sought to replace the Collegium but was struck down by the Supreme Court in the Fourth Judges Case (2015) as violating judicial independence.
Related GK Concepts
Must KnowTest Yourself
1 / 3What is the current sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court of India, including the Chief Justice of India?
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