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The Government of India has officially appointed Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi as Supreme Court Judges, following the Collegium’s recommendation to fill vacancies and bolster the judiciary.
Two New Judges Elevated to Supreme Court
New Delhi: On August 27, 2025, the Government of India took a significant decision to appoint Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Chief Justice of Patna High Court as Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
The appointments were made only two days after the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, which shows the quickness of the process. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed on the social media platform 'X' that the President has given his assent to these appointments after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint (i) Shri Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice, Bombay High Court and (ii) Shri Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi, Chief Justice,…
— Arjun Ram Meghwal (@arjunrammeghwal) August 27, 2025
Controversy over appointment of Justice Pancholi
The decision to appoint has given rise to a public debate, mainly over the elevation of Justice Vipul Pancholi. According to reports, in an internal meeting of the Collegians, Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna registered her public dissent to the decision.
She raised two major concerns: first, Justice Pancholi's relatively low ranking in the all-India seniority list, and second, his transfer from the Gujarat High Court to the Patna High Court in the year 2023.
Official Notification issued by Govt of India: Justice Alok Aradhe (CJ, Bombay HC) and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi (CJ, Patna HC) appointed as Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) August 27, 2025
Additionally, she also highlighted the fact that the Gujarat High Court already has two judges in the Supreme Court, raising questions about judicial diversity.
Despite these objections, the official statement of the Collegium did not clearly record the reasoning or disagreements behind this appointment.
Long-term impact and reactions
Justice Pancholi's appointment may have a long-term impact on the Indian judiciary. Due to his seniority, it is being speculated that he may hold the post of Chief Justice of India (CJI) from October 2031 to May 2033.
On the other hand, the appointment of Justice Alok Aradhe has been widely praised in legal circles. His judicial tenure is known for clear and fair judgments, and his elevation is being considered merit-based.
