Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud administered the oath of office to Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate Kalpathy Venkataraman Viswanathan as judges of the Supreme Court on Friday. With the induction of the two new judges, the sanctioned strength reached 34.
Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra has been the chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The ceremony took place at 10:30 am in the newly built auditorium of the Supreme Court.
However, the apex court will be at full strength only for a brief period as Friday is also the last working day of three judges who are set to retire in June.
Justice KM Joseph, Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice V Ramasubramanian are set to demit office next month during the summer vacation, which will run from May 22 to July 2.
Justice Viswanathan will become the Chief Justice of India upon the retirement of Justice JB Pardiwala on August 11, 2030, and remain in the post till May 25, 2031.
The warrant of appointments of Justice Mishra and Justice Viswanathan as apex court judges was issued from the office of President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday. Their appointments were announced by new Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Twitter.
The collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India on May 16 recommended to the Centre the names of Justice Mishra and senior advocate Viswanathan as apex court judges.
The Centre had cleared the two names within two working days.
(With PTI inputs)