New Delhi, 25 Jan

Karnataka High Court Chief Justice PB Varale was on Thursday administered the oath of office as a Supreme Court judge by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud here.

The swearing in function was held in the Supreme Court premises, a day after the Centre cleared his name for judgeship.

With the swearing in, the top court has attained its full strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, and would for the first time have three sitting judges from the Dalit community. The other two sitting judges from the Scheduled Caste community are Justices BR Gavai and CT Ravikumar.

While recommending Justice Varale's name earlier this month, a five-judge SC Collegium headed by CJI Chandrachud said it took into consideration the fact that he is among the senior-most High Court judges and is the only high court chief justice from the Scheduled Caste.

A vacancy arose in the apex court following the retirement of Justice SK Kaul on 25 December  last year.

Justice Varale's appointment came within a week of the SC Collegium recommending his name. "In exercise of powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale, Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, to be a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office," a law ministry notification read.