Six New Judges Sworn In At Delhi High Court; Bench Strength Rises To 41

On 21 July 2025, Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya administered the oath of office to six newly appointed judges of the Delhi High Court.

The additions bring the current strength of the court to 41, out of a sanctioned 60 posts.

The newly sworn-in judges include Justices V Kameshwar Rao, Nitin Wasudeo Sambre, Vivek Chaudhary, Anil Kshetrapal, Arun Kumar Monga, and Om Prakash Shukla.

The Ministry of Law and Justice formally notified these appointments on 14 July, following the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations issued in May.

The authorities transferred most of the judges from other High Courts.

Justice V Kameshwar Rao returns to his parent court in Delhi from the Karnataka High Court.

Originally from the Bombay High Court, Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre joins the Delhi High Court, while Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Om Prakash Shukla come from the Allahabad High Court.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court sent Justice Anil Kshetrapal to Delhi, while the Rajasthan High Court transferred Justice Arun Kumar Monga.

Court’s Functioning and Collegium Changes

With the addition of these judges, the Delhi High Court moves a step closer to its full sanctioned strength.

However, the court continues to face a significant backlog, with over 1.25 lakh cases currently pending across various benches, according to figures released in June.

The increased strength is expected to alleviate some of the burden and improve judicial efficiency.

The induction also sets the stage for a reshuffling of the Delhi High Court Collegium.

Previously, the Collegium included Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Justice Vibhu Bakhru, and Justice Prathiba M Singh.

However, with Justice Vibhu Bakhru’s elevation as Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court on 16 July, changes in Collegium membership are now imminent.

These judicial appointments signal a focused effort to enhance the capacity of the Delhi High Court and address long-standing delays in case resolution.

With further transfers and promotions expected, the restructured bench aims to enhance the overall administration of justice in the capital.

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