Jahanvi Agarwal
On 25th January 2024, Chief Justice P B Varale of the Karnataka High Court was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in a ceremony at the Supreme Court premises. This comes a day after the Centre approved his appointment to the judgeship.
With this induction, the Supreme Court has reached its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, marking a historic moment with three sitting judges from the Dalit community, including Justices B R Gavai and C T Ravikumar.
Justice Varale’s nomination was recommended earlier this month by a five-judge SC Collegium led by CJI Chandrachud, highlighting his seniority as one of the most experienced High Court judges and the only Chief Justice from the Scheduled Caste.
The appointment swiftly filled the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice S K Kaul on December 25, 2023. The Ministry of Law and Justice notification stated, “In exercise of powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Prasanna 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.”
Reflecting on the decision, the Collegium noted the Supreme Court’s commendable performance in 2023, handling a significant caseload, and stressed the need to maintain a full working judge strength at all times.
Born on June 23, 1962, Justice Varale previously served as a judge of the High Court of Bombay, starting on July 18, 2008, and assumed the role of Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka on October 15, 2022. With Justice Varale’s elevation, the representation of Bombay High Court in the Supreme Court increases to four, joining CJI Chandrachud, Justices Gavai, and Abhay S Oka.