Three new judges sworn in at Delhi High Court as more appointments likely amid vacancies

Three new judges were sworn in on Tuesday at the Delhi High Court, further strengthening the court’s judicial capacity amid ongoing transfers and pending appointments.

Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya administered the oath of office to Justices Dinesh Mehta, Avneesh Jhingan, and Chandrasekharan Sudha in a ceremony held at the High Court premises. While Justices Mehta and Jhingan were transferred from the Rajasthan High Court , Justice Sudha previously served as a judge at the Kerala High Court .

The latest swearing-in follows the induction of six judges earlier this month Justices V. Kameswar Rao, Nitin Wasudeo Sambre, Vivek Chaudhary, Om Prakash Shukla, Anil Kshetarpal, and Arun Kumar Monga who were also transferred to Delhi from various high courts.

With these additions, the Delhi High Court’s working strength has risen but still remains below its sanctioned capacity. The court is authorised to have 60 judges , including 45 permanent and 15 additional judges . However, it has been functioning with a lower number, estimated at around 40 judges following recent appointments.

Judicial transfers and appointments are made by the President of India on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium , which oversees postings across high courts. The Collegium has in recent months recommended several transfers and elevations to address vacancies and balance judicial workload nationwide.

Further movements are anticipated as part of the ongoing process, given that multiple vacancies remain unfilled and several recommendations by the Collegium are pending approval. The Delhi High Court, one of the busiest in the country, continues to see adjustments in its composition to ensure efficient case management and equitable distribution of judges across jurisdictions. The inclusion of judges with diverse experience from other High Courts and judicial backgrounds strengthens the institution, enhancing the quality of adjudication and ensuring a more balanced and efficient delivery of justice.