Justice Oka tops in seniority among 9 to take oath today
Former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas, who joined the judiciary in Bombay High Court in 2003, tops in seniority among the 9 Supreme Court judges to be administered oath on Tuesday by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana. Three others in the seniority list are former chief justices Vikram Nath (Gujarat), Maheshwari (Sikkim) and Hima Kohli (Telangana).
Though all are to take oath on the same day, the seniority is drawn up from the order in which they are listed for being sworn in. Three of them going to become Chief Justices of India are Justice BV Nagarathna (first woman CJI) and Justice Vikram Nath in 2027 and PS Narasimha to take over from Nagarathna from October 30, 2027 to May 3, 2028.
While the swearing-in is slated at 10.30 am on Tuesday, the new judges will be sitting on the first nine Benches immediately thereafter, including one presided over by CJI Ramana.
Those among the new judges to retire first on September 2, 2024 is Justice Hima Kohli, who was elevated from the post of Telangana Chief Justice, while the last to retire after chairing as CJI is Narasimha in May 2028. Two others, besides Justice Oka, to retire in 2025 are Justice CT Ravikumar (Jan 6, 2025) and Justice Bela Trivedi (June 10, 2025). Besides Nagarathna, two others to retire in 2027 are Justice MM Sundresh (July 21, 2027) and Justice Vikram Nath (Sept 25, 2027). Justice JK Maheshwari is to retire on June 29, 2026. Narasimha is the seventh senior advocate from Supreme Court Bar to be elevated to the bench.
After long time, 14 Benches will be sitting on Tuesday. With the new judges, all first nine Benches will have three judges each, while three Benches will have two judges each and two Benches of the single judge. After 18 months, Supreme Court will witness movement of large number of lawyers and litigants from September 1 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays as there will be physical and virtual hearing on these days, leaving Mondays and Fridays for only virtual hearing. In a first, all nine judges will take oath of office in one go. Also for first time, the swearing-in will be telecst live on DD News and DD India and also available as a webcast on Supreme Court website.