On 17-03-2025, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, formerly serving as a Judge of Calcutta High Court, was sworn in as new Judge of Supreme Court of India. Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office to the newly appointed Judge.
After a thorough evaluation of merit, integrity, and competence, while also considering a variety of factors, the Collegium has recommended the appointment of Mr. Justice Joymalya Bagchi, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 06-03-2025 and this recommendation was confirmed by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 10-03-2025.
The Collegium in its resolution also took into account the current underrepresentation of the Calcutta High Court at the Supreme Court, as the bench included only one Judge from this esteemed institution. Justice Bagchi, who ranked 11th in the combined all-India seniority of High Court Judges, including Chief Justices, will bring invaluable experience and diversity to the highest court of the land.
With Justice Bagchi’s elevation, the Supreme Court will now have 33 Judges, just one Judge short of the sanctioned strength of 34 Judges.
Know Thy Newly Appointed Supreme Court Judge
Born on 03-10-1966, Justice Joymalya Bagchi completed his schooling at Calcutta Boys’ School and went on to earn his LL.B. from the University of Calcutta in 1991, where he stood first in all of his LL.B. exams. He was enrolled as an advocate on 28-11-1991 and began his practice at the Calcutta High Court. Over the years, he has appeared in numerous significant cases, particularly in criminal and constitutional law, including death sentence and clemency cases before the Calcutta High Court, other High Courts, and the Supreme Court of India.1
One of his notable achievements was successfully arguing before a special bench of the Calcutta High Court against the ban imposed by the West Bengal Government on the book ‘Dwikhondito’ written by Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen. Justice Bagchi has also appeared in several public interest litigations on behalf of human rights organizations, actively advocating for civil liberties and environmental protection.2
His expertise was recognized when he was empaneled as an advocate for the Union of India, the State of West Bengal, and various corporations, including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Port Trust, and the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation. In addition to his legal practice, he has contributed to legal education as a part-time lecturer at the University of Calcutta, Law Department, and at the Jogesh Chandra Choudhary College of Law. Justice Bagchi was also invited as a guest lecturer at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences and has been a guest speaker at UGC-sponsored refresher courses on Human Rights in India at Jadavpur University and Charu Chandra College.3
A prolific writer, he has authored numerous articles on various legal and social issues, further showcasing his dedication to law and justice.
Justice Bagchi was appointed as a Judge of the Calcutta High Court on 27-06-2011, and his judicial journey has been marked by both regional and national importance. He was transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court on 04-01-2021, only to be repatriated to the Calcutta High Court on 8-11-2021, where he has continued to serve diligently. With over 13 years of experience on the bench, Justice Bagchi has developed significant expertise across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines.4
His appointment to the Supreme Court comes after a notable gap since the retirement of Justice Altamas Kabir, the last Chief Justice from Calcutta, in July 2013. On the retirement of Mr. Justice K.V. Viswanathan in May 2031, Justice Bagchi is poised to succeed him as Chief Justice of India, until his retirement in October 2031. He would have a tenure of more than six years before he assumes the office of the Chief Justice of India.5
1. Calcutta High Court —Judges
2. Calcutta High Court —Judges
3. Calcutta High Court —Judges