New Delhi/Bengaluru: Justice B.V. Nagarathna, poised to make history as the first woman Chief Justice of India, is set to join the Supreme Court Collegium following the retirement of Justice Abhay S. Oka.
As the fifth most senior judge, Justice Nagarathna will officially become a member of the Collegium on May 25, serving in this capacity until her retirement as Chief Justice on October 29, 2027.
The newly constituted Collegium will include Chief Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice J.K. Maheshwari, and Justice Nagarathna.
According to sources within the apex court, Chief Justice Gavai is expected to convene his inaugural Collegium meeting on Monday to address existing vacancies in the Supreme Court and to make critical appointments across several high courts.
With Justice Oka’s retirement, the Supreme Court will face a vacancy of three judges.
The Collegium system, established in 1993 following a landmark Supreme Court judgment, empowers the five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court to recommend the appointment, transfer, and elevation of judges to both the Supreme Court and the 25 high courts across the country. While the government has the authority to return recommendations to the Collegium, it typically accepts them if reiterated. However, there have been instances where the government has either returned the file for further consideration or failed to respond to the recommendations altogether.
Justice Nagarathna, born on October 30, 1962, is the daughter of former Chief Justice E.S. Venkataramiah. She began her legal career as an advocate on October 28, 1987, in Bangalore, specializing in constitutional law, commerce, insurance, and service matters.
On February 18, 2008, she was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, and she ascended to the position of permanent Judge on February 17, 2010.
Her tenure as a judge of the apex court is set to continue until October 29, 2027. Following this period, she may serve as the first woman Chief Justice of India for over a month, beginning on September 23, 2027.
