Justice P B Varale Takes Oath As Supreme Court Judge, Apex Court Now Functioning With Full Strength Of 34 Judges
Chief Justice P B Varale of the Karnataka High Court was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court today. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud in a ceremony held at the Apex Court premises.
The Centre had officially approved Justice Varale's appointment as a Supreme Court judge yesterday i.e. January 24. With this swearing-in ceremony, the Supreme Court has now reached its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its recommendation earlier this month, highlighted Justice Varale's seniority among high court judges and the fact that he is the only Chief Justice from the Scheduled Caste. This appointment makes him the third sitting Supreme Court judge from the Scheduled Caste community, joining Justices B R Gavai and C T Ravikumar.
Born on June 23, 1962, in Nipani, Justice Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale has had an illustrious career in the legal field.
Justice Varale's legal career began in 1985 when he enrolled as an advocate. He gained valuable experience working in the chambers of Advocate S.N. Loya, handling both civil and criminal cases. His early exposure to diverse legal matters laid the foundation for his future as a well-rounded jurist.
In addition to his legal practice, Justice Varale served as a lecturer in Law at Ambedkar Law College, Aurangabad, from 1990 to 1992. He also took on roles in public service, serving as the Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the High Court Bench in Aurangabad. His proficiency in these roles led to his appointment as the Additional Standing Counsel for the Union of India.
Justice Varale's judicial career began on July 18, 2008, when he was elevated to the bench of the High Court of Bombay. His dedication and legal acumen were duly recognized when he took oath as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka on October 15, 2022.