On December 5, Justice Manmohan, the former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court of India. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna in the presence of fellow judges at the apex court's first courtroom.
This follows the Central Government’s formal notification on December 3, 2023, clearing the appointment of Justice Manmohan, which came after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his elevation on November 23, 2023. With this appointment, the Supreme Court’s bench is now comprised of 33 judges, one short of its sanctioned strength of 34.
Justice Manmohan is recognized as one of the senior-most judges in India, ranking second in the combined seniority of all High Court judges. He is the senior-most judge in the Delhi High Court, which had been represented by only one sitting judge in the Supreme Court until now. His elevation is seen as a move to ensure better representation of the Delhi High Court on the bench.
A native of Delhi, Justice Manmohan was born on December 17, 1962. He is the son of Jagmohan Malhotra, the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. After completing his LLB from Delhi's prestigious Campus Law Centre in 1987, he enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi and began practising law before the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.
Justice Manmohan was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in 2003 and appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in March 2008. He became a Permanent Judge of the Delhi High Court in December 2009. His tenure saw significant contributions to the judicial system, culminating in his appointment as Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in November 2023 and his official elevation to the post in September 2024.
This appointment is considered a notable one, not only because of Justice Manmohan’s extensive legal background and leadership in the Delhi High Court, but also for the timing of the elevation amidst growing calls for regional representation in the Supreme Court.
Picture Source :
