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Justice Joymalya Bagchi, judge of the Calcutta High Court, was sworn in as the judge of the Supreme Court on Monday.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office to Justice Bagchi at a full court ceremony held in the CJI's court. With the appointment of Justice Bagchi, the apex court has one vacancy remaining out of a strength of 34 judges. The Supreme Court Collegium on March 6 passed the resolution recommending the elevation of Justice Bagchi as the apex court's judge. The Central government on March 10 approved the appointment of Justice Bagchi as a judge of the Supreme Court. In its resolution, the Collegium noted that on his appointment as apex court judge, Justice Bagchi would be in line to assume office as the Chief Justice of India till his retirement on October 2, 2031. Justice Bagchi would have a tenure of more than six years before he assumes the office of the Chief Justice of India, added the resolution. The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, stated, "After carefully evaluating merit, integrity and competence and also accommodating a plurality of considerations, the Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Joymalya Bagchi, presently a Judge of the High Court at Calcutta, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India." Justice Bagchi was appointed as a judge of the High Court at Calcutta on June 27, 2011, and transferred to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on January 4, 2021. He was repatriated to the High Court at Calcutta on November 8, 2021, and has been functioning there since then. He has served as a judge of the High Court for more than 13 years. During his long tenure as a judge of the High Court, Justice Bagchi has acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law, stated the resolution. The Collegium stated that after the retirement of Justice Altamas Kabir on July 18, 2013, as Chief Justice of India, there has not been any Chief Justice of India from the High Court at Calcutta. After the retirement of Justice KV Viswanathan on May 24, 2031, Justice Bagchi would become Chief Justice of India. However, he will serve as CJI for a short duration since he will retire in October 2031. "The Collegium has also taken into consideration the fact that, at present, the bench of the Supreme Court is represented by only one judge from the High Court at Calcutta. Justice Bagchi stands at Sl. No. 11 in the combined all-India seniority of High Court Judges, including Chief Justices. The Collegium has, therefore, unanimously resolved to recommend that Justice Bagchi be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India," it added. (ANI)
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