SC recommends names of Justices Maheshwari, Sanjiv Khanna as top court judges

The Supreme Court collegium has recommended the names of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna for appointment as judges of the top court.

Justice Maheshwari is Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, whereas Justice Sanjiv Khanna is a judge in the Delhi High Court. They are number 21 and 33 in the overall seniority list of High Court judges.

There are currently five vacancies in the top court. Though it has a sanctioned strength of 31, it is functioning with 26 judges.


More vacancies will arise with more judges demitting office later this year.

A collegium resolution said that the collegium initially met on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2018, and discussed these names.

The top court collegium, which recommended these names, included Justice Madan B Lokur who has since demitted office.

The new collegium headed by the CJI and comprising the five senior-most judges of the top court has since cleared them.

The names will now send to the Law Ministry for vetting. After the government clears the names, they will be appointed by the President under his warrant and seal.