M A I N   N E W S

Bhandari sworn in as SC judge
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, October 28
Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari was sworn-in as a new judge of the Supreme Court today.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) R.C. Lahoti administered the oath of office to him in a simple ceremony in the apex court today, attended by all its judges, law officers of the Union Government, senior advocates and others lawyers.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had issued orders of his appointment as Supreme Court judge only last night.

With his appointment, the strength of the apex court judges has gone up to 25 against the sanctioned strength of 26. It will again be reduced by two with the retirement of the CJI himself and Mr Justice S.N. Variava on November 1 and 7, respectively.

Justice Bhandari (58) started his practice in Delhi in 1968 and was appointed a judge of the Delhi High Court in 1991.

He was appointed Chief Justice of Bombay High Court on July 25, 2004. As a lawyer, he was actively involved in human right activities.

As a High Court judge, he was instrumental in providing relief to hundreds of petty crime offenders languishing in Tihar jail for many years. He took suo motu action calling for reports from the prison of such undertrials and ordered their release after finding that they had undergone jail term far longer that prescribed under the law.