Mon Mar 17 05:33:25 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Welcomes New Judge, Addressing Regional Representation
**NEW DELHI, March 17, 2025** – Justice Joymalya Bagchi was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge today, bringing the court’s strength to 33 and reducing the vacancy to one. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath.
Justice Bagchi’s appointment, recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on March 6th and approved by the government on March 10th, addresses a long-standing concern regarding regional representation on the bench. The Collegium highlighted the fact that no Chief Justice of India had hailed from the Calcutta High Court since Justice Altamas Kabir’s retirement in 2013. Justice Bagchi’s appointment ensures representation from this crucial region.
Prior to his elevation, Justice Bagchi served as a judge at the Calcutta High Court, and is slated to become Chief Justice of India in May 2031, serving until his retirement in October of the same year. His extensive experience, spanning over 13 years as a High Court judge, including a period at the Andhra Pradesh High Court, contributed to his selection. Currently, only Justice Dipankar Datta represents the Calcutta High Court on the Supreme Court bench.
The appointment underscores the Collegium’s commitment to balancing merit with regional representation in judicial appointments.
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