Analysis

On August 29th 2021 it was announced that physical hearings would resume in the Supreme Court for a limited number of cases.

The judiciary appoints its own judges - a common source of conflict with the executive. But what does the process entail?

The Supreme Court bench has the highest number of women ever, maximum judges from the Bombay and Delhi High Courts and mostly Hindu judges.

The appointments include three women and one advocate directly elevated from the Bar. B.V. Nagarathna is likely to be the first woman CJI.

The Court issued an order to the State Governments to complete the process of identification of children orphaned by the pandemic

While the primary criteria for SC appointments has always been seniority, some argue that gender should also be an important consideration.

In overturning the Maharashtra Reservation judgment, the Supreme Court paved the way for a State List on SEBCs.

August 2021 saw two Supreme Court retirements accompanied by nine Collegium recommendations to the apex court.