Supreme Court of India: On 14-07-2023, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti were sworn in as new Judges of Supreme Court of India. The new Judges were administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India, Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud.
On 05-07-2023, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the appointment of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Chief Justice, High Court for the State of Telangana; and Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti, Chief Justice, High Court of Kerala, to the Supreme Court of India. The recommendations came in the light of the existing three vacancies that arose after the retirement of Justice K.M Joseph, Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice V. Ramasubramanian in the month of June.
The recommended names received accent of the President and the same was notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 12-07-20231.
Induction of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice S.V. Bhatti will increase the strength of the Supreme Court to 32 Judges, which was currently functioning at a strength of 30 Judges after afore-stated 3 retirements in June and retirement of Justice Krishna Murari on 08-07-2023.
Know Thy Newly Appointed Judges
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was born on 02-08-1964 at Guwahati. His father, Suchendra Nath Bhuyan was a Senior Advocate and a former Advocate General of Assam. Did his schooling in Don Bosco High School, Guwahati and thereafter studied in Cotton College, Guwahati. After graduating in Arts from Kirori Mal College, Delhi, he obtained his LL.B. degree from Government Law College, Guwahati and LL.M. degree from Gauhati University, Guwahati. Was enrolled on 20-03-1991 with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh2.
Justice Bhuyan was appointed as Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 17-10- 2011. Prior to his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Bhuyan served as Chief Justice Telangana High Court since 28-06- 2022 and holds significant experience in diverse fields of law, he has specialisation and domain knowledge in the law of taxation. He has also served as a Judge of the Bombay High Court.
Did you Know? Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has deep interest for acting and music and sporting activities. He has often expressed his regrets at not being able to play the guitar and not being able to swim.3
Also Read: In conversation with Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on his journey from Bar to Bench
Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti
Justice Sarasa Venkatanarayana Bhatti was born on 06-05-1962. Justice Bhatti obtained his bachelor’s degree in law from Jagadguru Renukacharya College, Bangalore.
After completing law, Justice Bhatti enrolled himself on 21-01-1987 with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh and started his practice in the High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad.
Justice S Venkatanarayana Bhatti was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 12-04- 2013 and is the seniormost in his parent High Court. He was transferred to the High Court of Kerala in March 2019 and was later appointed as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court in June 2023.
Justice S.V. Bhatti’s induction will give much -needed representation to Andhra Pradesh in the Supreme Court as the High Court of Andhra Pradesh does not have any representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court since August 2022, after former Chief Justice N.V. Ramana retired.
Also Read: Know Thy Judge | 37th Chief Justice of Kerala High Court: Justice S.V. Bhatti
1. 2023071293.pdf (s3waas.gov.in); 2023071226.pdf (s3waas.gov.in)
2. Updates & Notifications (tshc.gov.in)
3. In conversation with Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on his journey from Bar to Bench
