Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has shared the reasoning behind the collegium's recent choice to elevate Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh to the nation's highest court. Speaking at an event on November 3, the Chief Justice affirmed that the selection was guided squarely by the two judges' relentless hard work and proven competence. He observed that the real standing of the apex court does not rest merely on constitutional power, but on the trust it inspires among everyday citizens.
Institutional Integrity and Public Faith
Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that public faith in the judiciary is built upon multiple pillars. It is shaped by the soundness of judicial rulings, the procedural fairness shown inside courtrooms, respectful conduct toward litigants, and the firm assurance that anyone approaching the bench will receive an impartial hearing free of bias. Sustaining this faith, he stressed, is an unbroken institutional obligation that demands active dedication from every individual serving within the legal administration.
Address at the Supreme Court Bar Association Felicitation
The remarks came during a felicitation gathering organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association to honour the newly appointed judges. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Justice remarked that both judges bring extensive, diverse backgrounds from serving across various High Courts in different roles, which will offer immense institutional value to the apex court. He pointed out that while selecting individuals for this team, multiple objective parameters are scrutinized.
Team Coordination and the Fast-Paced Modern Docket
Drawing an analogy to modern sport, Chief Justice Surya Kant highlighted the intensity of daily proceedings at the apex court. He remarked, the Supreme Court is virtually playing a T20 match now.
In his view, a critical consideration during evaluations is assessing how effectively a candidate operates as part of a collective bench, given the pressing speed and heavy volume of casework. He noted that this quality was specifically weighed when shortlisting the two High Court Chief Justices.
Confidence in the Collegium's Decision
Expressing satisfaction with the appointments, Chief Justice Surya Kant said he was delighted to see the two accomplished High Court Chief Justices take their seats on the bench. He shared full confidence that both jurists will demonstrate their legal acumen through high-level judicial output, ultimately validating the wisdom of the collegium's decision to bring them onto the top court.
