4 new judges elevated to SC as collegium rejects Centre's objections on 2 names.

• Justices Aniruddha Bose, A.S. Bopanna, Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, and Surya Kant have been elevated to the Supreme Court

• Earlier the Centre had objected to the elevation of Bose and Bopanna citing concern over seniority

For the first time in five years the Supreme Court will have the approved full strength of 31 judges as four new judges are likely to be sworn in as justices soon. Justices Aniruddha Bose, A.S. Bopanna, Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, and Surya Kant have been elevated to the top court.

A five-member collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had recommended names of Justice Bose of Jharkhand High Court and Justice Bopanna of the Gauhati High Court on April 12. The Centre had, however, objected to the elevation of Bose and Bopanna citing concern over seniority.

But the collegium overruled the Centre’s objections, saying that while recommending the names of Bose and Bopanna not only merit and integrity were kept in mind but, “the collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the high courts."

Later on May 8, the collegium had also recommended names of Justices B R Gavai, a judge in the Bombay High Court, and Surya Kant, the incumbent Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, for elevation to the top court.

“On his appointment, the Supreme Court Bench will have a judge belonging to Scheduled Caste category after about a decade," the collegium said in a resolution while referring to Justice Gavai. While referring to recommendation of Justice Kant, it said “there will be two judges on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the Punjab & Haryana High Court, which has the distinction of being common High Court for two large states, and is the third largest High Court in the country."

The oath taking ceremony of the newly elevated judges is expected to be held on Friday.(Source: Livemint)