M A I N   N E W S

Justice Bedi sworn in
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, January 12
The outgoing Chief Justice of India Y.K. Sabharwal today swore in three new Judges of the Supreme Court in a hurriedly called ceremony at a podium specially created by the Apex Court Bar Association for giving him farewell.

CJI Sabharwal administered the oath of office to Mr Justice H.S. Bedi, Mr Justice V.S. Sirpurkar and Mr Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, elevated to the apex court. They were Chief Justices of Bombay, Calcutta and Guwahati High Courts, respectively.

Their appointments were cleared by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on January 8 but due to the completion of certain formalities, formal notification for their appointment could not be issued by the government immediately.

The President earlier issued warrants of their appointment to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony could take place.

The ceremony was attended by Judges of the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, Law Officers of the government, Apex Court Bar Association president M.N. Krishnamani, senior advocates and a large number of lawyers who had also assembled to give farewell to Justice Sabharwal.

The Supreme Court collegium, headed by Justice Sabharwal had recommended the names of these Judges for appointment to the apex court and he ensured that they were administered the oath before he demits office on January 14.

The efforts of the CJI were that the vacancies in the apex court are filled before he retires. At present the court is functioning with a reduced number of 22 Judges against the sanctioned strength of 26.

With the swearing-in of the three new Judges, the Supreme Court will still have two vacancies after CJI Sabharwal demits office.