Who Are the Nine Recommended SC Judges?

On August 17th, 2021, the Supreme Court collegium recommended nine names to the Union Government for elevation to the Supreme Court. Here are their brief profiles.

The Four Chief Justices

Justice A.S. Oka 

Oka J started his career as a lawyer in the Thane District Court and the Bombay High Court. He became an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, and a permanent Judge in 2005. He was transferred to the Karnataka High Court as its Chief Justice in 2019. He is currently the senior-most High Court Judge in the country.

As Chief Justice he passed several orders protecting the rights of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justice Vikram Nath 

Vikram Nath J practised at the Allahabad High Court until he was elevated as a Judge in 2004. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in September 2019.

Under Nath J, the Gujarat High Court became the first court in the country to live stream their proceedings. The Supreme Court is currently deliberating rules for live-streaming for lower courts, and for itself.

Justice J.K. Maheshwari

Maheshwari J was first elevated to the Bench as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. He became the first Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2019. He was transferred to the High Court of Sikkim as Chief Justice in January 2021.

Maheshwari J was the first Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court after its bifurcation from the Telangana High Court.

Justice Hima Kohli

Kohli J served as a Judge at the Delhi High Court before becoming the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court in January, 2021. She was the first woman to hold this office.

During her short time at the Telangana High Court, she passed judgments urging the Telangana Government to properly enforce COVID-19 guidelines and provide oxygen supplies for hospitals.

Four HC Judges

Justice B.V. Nagarathna 

Nagarathna J is in line to become the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of India, if her appointment is approved by the Union Government. She spent 21 years practising as a lawyer in the Karnataka High Court. She has served as a Judge at the Karnataka High Court since 2008.

Nagarathna J passed several judgments ordering the Karnataka Government to effectively discharge its duties during the COVID pandemic. She also passed orders protecting migrant workers’ rights during the pandemic along with Oka J.

Justice C.T. Ravikumar

Ravikumar J started his legal career practising in Ernakulam on Civil, Criminal, Service and  Labour matters. He became an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court in January 2009. He was appointed as Permanent Judge of the Kerala High Court in December, 2010.

Justice M. M. Sundresh

Sundresh J has served as a Judge of the Madras High Court since 2009. In the interest of environmental conservation, in February 2021, he ordered a CBI probe into suspicions of ivory poaching prompted by elephant deaths in Tamil Nadu.

Justice Bela Trivedi

Trivedi J was elevated to the Bench as an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court in February 2011. After a short transfer to the Rajasthan High Court as an Additional Judge, she returned to the Gujarat High Court as a permanent Judge in 2016.

Trivedi J served as a trial Court judge for a decade before being elevated to the High Court.  Since Bhanumati J’s retirement, no sitting Supreme Court judge has served in both a High Court and a subordinate court. As a Judge of the Gujarat High Court, hers was among the first courtrooms in India to be livestreamed.

One Advocate Directly from the Bar

Sr. Adv. P.S Narasimha

Mr. Narasimha has argued cases on a wide range of subjects as an advocate. He also served as the Additional Solicitor General from 2014 to 2018. He rose to prominence while representing the Bhagwan Shri Ram Virajman in the Ayodhya Title Dispute.