Karnataka HC Chief Justice Elevated As SC Judge, Top Court Attains Full Strength

Justice Prasanna Varale would become the third sitting apex court judge from a Scheduled Caste community.

the apex court will attain its full strength of 34 judges, once Justice Varale takes oath.

Source : pti

New Delhi: The Supreme Court attained its full strength after Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale was appointed as a judge of the top court on Wednesday, according to a government notification.

As per PTI, the apex court will attain its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, once Justice Varale takes oath.

"While recommending his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that among the high court judges, he is the senior-most judge belonging to a Scheduled Caste and the only Chief Justice belonging to a Scheduled Caste among the Chief Justices of high courts across the country," the SC Collegium had said in a release, reported IANS.

Notably, Justice Varale would become the third sitting apex court judge from a Scheduled Caste community. The others are Justices B R Gavai and C T Ravikumar. 

Justice Varale was elevated as a judge of the apex court after a vacancy arose in the top court following the retirement of Justice S K Kaul last month, reported PTI. 

"Bearing in mind that the workload of judges has increased considerably, it has become necessary to ensure that the court has full working judge-strength at all times. The Collegium has, therefore, decided to fill up the sole existing vacancy by recommending a name," it had noted.

Centre cleared Justice Varale's name within five days after the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, on January 19 recommended the name for elevation as a top court judge.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Prasarma Bhalachandra Varale, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office," a law ministry notification read, the PTI report added.

Meanwhile, in the Karnataka High Court, Justice P S Dinesh Kumar was elevated as its acting chief justice.