Supreme Court Collegium recommends three new judges for apex court

The five-judge collegium of the Supreme Court has forwarded its recommendations to the central government for the elevation of three sitting chief justices to the nation's highest court. The candidates identified are the chief justices presiding over the high courts in Gujarat, Delhi and Telangana. Once these appointments are finalized, the Supreme Court will operate at near-full capacity with a total of 37 judges on the bench. The Supreme Court is currently authorized to have a maximum of 38 judges. The collegium, comprising the Chief Justice of India and four senior-most judges, is responsible for recommending judicial appointments to the apex court and high courts across the country. The recommendation now awaits approval from the Union government before the formal notification of appointments. The elevation process typically follows standard procedures involving consultation between the judiciary and the executive branch.