In a major development, the Government of India has officially announced the appointment of Justice Joymalya Bagchi, a current judge of the Calcutta High Court, to the Supreme Court of India. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal made the announcement through a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that the President of India appointed him after consulting with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
This appointment is significant as Justice Bagchi is set to become the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in 2031, succeeding Justice KV Viswanathan. His elevation is a reflection of his merit, integrity, and competence, which were key considerations for the Supreme Court collegium in making this recommendation.
Supreme Court Collegium’s Recommendation and Selection Process
On March 6, 2025, the Supreme Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna, recommended that Justice Joymalya Bagchi be elevated to the Supreme Court. The collegium’s statement, which was posted on the Supreme Court’s official website, highlighted that it had deliberated on the names of Chief Justices and senior puisne judges from various High Courts who were eligible for this elevation.
The collegium considered multiple factors, including:
- Merit
- Integrity
- Competence
- Plurality of considerations (diversity, representation, and experience in various areas of law)
After evaluating these factors, the collegium recommended Justice Joymalya Bagchi’s appointment as a Supreme Court judge, recognizing his vast legal experience and profound contributions to the Indian judiciary.
