The ceremony took place at 3:30 PM, a deliberate shift from the customary morning slot, and was streamed live for the first time, allowing citizens to witness the swearing‑in of three new judges.
The Collegium had recommended the elevations on September 28, and the Centre formally notified the appointments on October 5, a process that spanned just over a week.
Justice Sunita Agarwal, formerly Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, began her judicial career at the Allahabad High Court in 1991, became a permanent judge in 2013, and now joins the Supreme Court as its third woman member.
Justice Upadhyaya, a former chief standing counsel for Uttar Pradesh, started as an advocate in 1991, served on the Allahabad High Court from 2011, and was Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before his Delhi posting in 2025.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, who led the Telangana High Court as Chief Justice, had earlier presided over the Jharkhand and Tripura High Courts, bringing a breadth of experience to the bench.
Earlier this year the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was raised from 34 to 38 judges, but the three new appointments bring the active bench to 37, leaving one vacancy that the Collegium will fill soon.
Policymaker Sushma Swaraj, who has long advocated for gender parity in the judiciary, praised the addition of a third woman judge in a statement to the media, citing it as a step toward inclusive governance.
In a personal note, Justice Agarwal’s daughter, a law student in Mumbai, said the appointment would inspire her peers to pursue higher judicial roles.