124. Establishment and constitution of the Supreme Court.—
(1)
There shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India
and, until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than
[seven] other Judges.
(2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the
President by warrant under his hand and seal 2[on the recommendation of the
National Judicial Appointments Commission referred to in article 124A] and
shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years:
3
[* * * * *]
4
[
Provided that ]—
(a) a Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the
President, resign his office;
(b) a Judge may be removed from his office in the manner
provided in clause
(4).
______________________________________________
1. Ins. by the Constitution (Thirty-eighth Amendment) Act, 1975, s. 2 (with retrospective effect) and
omitted by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, s. 16 (w.e.f. 20-6-1979).
Now “thirty-three” vide the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019 (37 of 2019),
s. 2 (w.e.f. 9-8-2019).
2. Subs. by the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014, s. 2, for "after consultation with
such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Court in the States as the President may
deem necessary for the purpose" (w.e.f. 13-4-2015). This amendment has been struck down by the
Supreme Court in the case of Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association and another Vs.
Union of India in its judgment dated 16-10-2015, AIR 2016 SC 117.
3. The first proviso was omitted by s. 2, ibid. The proviso was as under:—
"
Provided that in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief
Justice of India shall always be consulted:" This amendment has been struck down by the Supreme
Court in the case of Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association and another Vs. Union of
India in its judgment dated 16-10-2015, AIR 2016 SC 117.
4. Subs. by s. 2, ibid. for "provided further that" This amendment has been struck down by the Supreme
Court in the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association and another Vs Union of India
judgment dated 16-10-2015, AIR 2016 SC 117.
58 THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
(Part V.—The Union)
1
[(2A) The age of a Judge of the Supreme Court shall be determined by
such authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.]
(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the
Supreme Court unless he is a citizen of India and—
(a) has been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of
two or more such Courts in succession; or
(b) has been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or
of two or more such Courts in succession; or
(c) is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.
Explanation I.—In this clause "High Court'' means a High Court which
exercises, or which at any time before the commencement of this Constitution
exercised, jurisdiction in any part of the territory of India.
Explanation II.—In computing for the purpose of this clause the period
during which a person has been an advocate, any period during which a person has
held judicial office not inferior to that of a district judge after he became an
advocate shall be included.
(4) A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office
except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of
Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a
majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting
has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the
ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
(5) Parliament may by law regulate the procedure for the presentation of an
address and for the investigation and proof of the misbehaviour or incapacity of a
Judge under clause
(4).
(6) Every person appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court shall,
before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or
some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according
to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.
(7) No person who has held office as a Judge of the Supreme Court shall
plead or act in any court or before any authority within the territory of India.
2
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