Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Justice Joymalya Bagchi for Elevation to Supreme Court
Safiya Malik
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on March 6, 2025, has recommended the appointment of Justice Joymalya Bagchi, a Judge of the Calcutta High Court, as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The decision was made after assessing merit, integrity, and competence while also ensuring diverse representation within the Supreme Court.
Born on October 3, 1966, Justice Joymalya Bagchi completed his schooling at Calcutta Boys' School. He pursued his LLB from Calcutta University and graduated in 1991, securing the first position in all LLB examinations.
Justice Bagchi was appointed as a Judge of the Calcutta High Court on June 27, 2011. He was later transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court on January 4, 2021, before being repatriated to the Calcutta High Court on November 8, 2021. With over 13 years of judicial experience, he has dealt with a wide range of legal matters.
The Collegium noted that the Supreme Court currently has only one serving Judge from the Calcutta High Court. It also observed that since the retirement of Justice Altamas Kabir as Chief Justice of India on July 18, 2013, no Chief Justice from the Calcutta High Court has been appointed to the Supreme Court. The resolution recorded that upon the retirement of Justice K.V. Viswanathan on May 25, 2031, Justice Joymalya Bagchi would be in line to assume the position of Chief Justice of India. If elevated, he would serve as a Judge of the Supreme Court for more than six years before becoming Chief Justice, continuing in that role until his retirement on October 2, 2031.
The Collegium also considered Justice Joymalya Bagchi’s seniority, noting that he ranks at serial number 11 in the all-India seniority list of High Court Judges, including Chief Justices. Taking these factors into account, the Collegium unanimously resolved to recommend his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
[Click here to Read Collegium recommendation]
