August 31, 2021: For the first time in the history of Indian judiciary, nine judges took oath as Supreme Court judges on Tuesday. The Oath of Office and Secrecy was administered by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana.

With the swearing-in of the nine new judges, the strength of the Supreme Court has risen to 33, including the CJI, out of the sanctioned strength of 34.

The nine new judges who were administered oath of office as apex court judges include Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B V Nagarathna. Besides them, Justice C T Ravikumar, Justice M M Sundresh, Justice Bela M Trivedi and senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha were also administered oath of office by the CJI.

Notably, it is for the first time that the swearing-in ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Supreme Court’s additional building complex. This was done keeping in view the need for strict adherence to COVID norms, according to the top court’s PRO.