Centre notifies Calcutta HC judge Joymalya Bagchi's appointment to the Supreme Court; in line to be CJI in 2031
The Centre on 10 March 2025 notified the appointment of Justice Joymalya Bagchi of the Calcutta High Court as a Judge of the Supreme Court under Article 124(2); he is in line to become Chief Justice of India in May 2031.
Summary
The Department of Justice on 10 March 2025 notified the President's appointment of Justice Joymalya Bagchi, a judge of the Calcutta High Court, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India under Article 124(2) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court Collegium led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna had unanimously recommended him on 6 March, noting that no Chief Justice of India had come from the Calcutta High Court since Justice Altamas Kabir retired on 18 July 2013, and that the Calcutta High Court then had only one judge in the Supreme Court. Justice Bagchi, 11th in the combined all-India seniority of High Court judges, was appointed to the Calcutta High Court on 27 June 2011, was transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court in January 2021 and returned in November 2021. By seniority he would become CJI after Justice K.V. Viswanathan retires on 25 May 2031 and serve until 2 October 2031. His joining takes the court's working strength to 33 against a sanctioned 34. The same notification made three additional judges — Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Rajesh Sekhri and Mohd. Yousuf Wani — permanent judges of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
Key facts
- Notified
- 10 March 2025 (Collegium recommendation: 6 March)
- Provision
- Article 124(2)
- From
- Calcutta High Court (judge since 27 June 2011)
- CJI line
- From 25 May 2031 to 2 October 2031
- Last CJI from Calcutta HC
- Altamas Kabir (retired 18 July 2013)
- SC strength
- 33 of sanctioned 34 after he joins
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Justice Joymalya Bagchi, whose appointment as a Supreme Court judge was notified on 10 March 2025, was a judge of which High Court?
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Correct answer: D — Calcutta High Court
Justice Bagchi was a judge of the Calcutta High Court, where he was appointed on 27 June 2011.
Under which provision of the Constitution did the President appoint Justice Joymalya Bagchi as a Supreme Court judge?
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Correct answer: D — Article 124(2)
The 10 March 2025 notification cites clause (2) of Article 124, under which the President appoints Supreme Court judges.
Who was the last Chief Justice of India from the Calcutta High Court before Justice Joymalya Bagchi's elevation, as noted by the Collegium in March 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Justice Altamas Kabir
The Collegium noted that no CJI had come from the Calcutta High Court since Justice Altamas Kabir retired on 18 July 2013.
With Justice Joymalya Bagchi's appointment, the Supreme Court's working strength became 33 against a sanctioned strength of:
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Correct answer: C — 34
The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
Consider the following statements about Justice Joymalya Bagchi's elevation in March 2025: 1. He was first in the combined all-India seniority of High Court judges. 2. By seniority, he is in line to serve as Chief Justice of India from May 2031 until 2 October 2031. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the Collegium said he stood 11th in the combined all-India seniority, and cited regional representation. Statement 2 is correct.