Meet Justices Sunita Agarwal, DK Upadhyay, Aparesh Singh: Centre notifies appointment of 3 judges to Supreme Court
Three High Court Chief Justices Appointed to Supreme Court
Theindiapostdaily.com – Meet Justices Sunita Agarwal DK Upadhyay and Aparesh Kumar Singh, the three High Court Chief Justices whose elevation to the Supreme Court has been notified by the Union government. Their appointments follow the Supreme Collegium’s recommendation of September 28.
The additions take the Supreme Court’s working strength to 37 judges, one below its sanctioned strength of 38. The newly appointed judges bring experience from the Gujarat, Delhi and Telangana High Courts, as well as several other courts during their careers.
A stronger Supreme Court bench can help distribute the institution’s extensive workload, which includes constitutional disputes, civil appeals and cases with implications across India.
Justice Sunita Agarwal
Justice Sunita Agarwal was serving as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court from July 2023 before her elevation. She belongs to the Allahabad High Court cadre and has served in both the Allahabad and Gujarat High Courts.
She earned her law degree from Awadh University in 1989 and began practising in December 1990. She was elevated as a judge in November 2011. Justice Agarwal is scheduled to retire from the Supreme Court in April 2031.
Justice DK Upadhyay
Justice DK Upadhyay was Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court before joining the Supreme Court. He studied law at Lucknow University and enrolled as an advocate in May 1991.
Meet Justices Sunita Agarwal DK Upadhyay in the context of careers shaped by extensive High Court experience: Justice Upadhyay began practice in the chambers of his father, RA Upadhyaya, and also worked with Senior Advocates Mohd Arif Khan and SK Kalia.
His practice focused mainly on civil and constitutional matters at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. He served as Chief Standing Counsel for Uttar Pradesh from May 2007 until his elevation as a judge in November 2011.
Justice Upadhyay became Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in July 2023. He was later transferred to the Delhi High Court, where he took charge as Chief Justice in January 2025.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh joins the Supreme Court after serving as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. He completed his legal education at the University of Delhi and enrolled as an advocate in 1990.
He began his legal practice at the Patna High Court and later moved to the Jharkhand High Court. He was elevated as a judge in 2012 and served as Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court from December 20, 2022, to February 19, 2023.
Justice Singh became Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on April 17, 2023. He later took oath as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court on July 19, 2025, adding to his judicial and administrative experience across several states.
Why the Supreme Court Appointments Matter
The appointments bring the apex court close to its full sanctioned strength. Judges with experience across different High Courts can contribute perspectives shaped by varied regional court systems, while helping the court hear cases from states and Union Territories across India.
Meet Justices Sunita Agarwal DK Upadhyay and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh as new members of a court that handles major constitutional questions, appeals and public-interest matters affecting citizens nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many judges can the Supreme Court of India have?
The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court is 38 judges. Following these three appointments, its working strength rises to 37.
Who recommended the three judges for elevation?
The Supreme Collegium recommended the appointments on September 28, after which the Union government notified their elevation.
Which High Courts did the new Supreme Court judges lead?
Justice Sunita Agarwal was Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, Justice DK Upadhyay was Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court.