In a significant development, the Centre has cleared the appointment of Justice Manmohan, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, as a judge of the Supreme Court of India. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice made the announcement on Tuesday through an official post on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the appointment following the President’s approval.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Manmohan, Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India,” the post read.
The appointment follows the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, which met on November 28. The Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, included Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Hrishikesh Roy, and Abhay S Oka in the decision-making process.
Justice Manmohan, born on December 17, 1962, has had a distinguished legal career. He completed his LL.B. from Delhi’s Campus Law Centre in 1987 and was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in the same year. His legal career has spanned various positions, including being designated a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in 2003.
He was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in March 2008 and became a permanent judge in December 2009. In September 2023, he was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, and by September 2024, he was appointed Chief Justice.
With this appointment, the Supreme Court will function with 33 judges, just one short of its sanctioned strength of 34, leaving one vacancy.
