Part V · The Union · Chapter IV — The Union Judiciary
Article 127: Appointment of ad hoc Judges
Text of Article 127
(1) If at any time there should not be a quorum of the Judges of the Supreme Court available to hold or continue any session of the Court, [the National Judicial Appointments Commission on a reference made to it by the Chief Justice of India, may with the previous consent of the President] and after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned, request in writing the attendance at the sittings of the Court, as an ad hoc Judge, for such period as may be necessary, of a Judge of a High Court duly qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court to be designated by the Chief Justice of India.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Judge who has been so designated, in priority to other duties of his office, to attend the sittings of the Supreme Court at the time and for the period for which his attendance is required, and while so attending he shall have all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges, and shall discharge the duties, of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
Words in [square brackets] were inserted or substituted by later amendments (see below). Source: Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India
A plain-English explanation of Article 127, landmark judgments and exam facts are being added to this page.
Amendment history
Changed by: 99th Amendment Act, 2014
- Subs. by the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014, s. 4, for "the Chief Justice of India may, with the previous consent of the President" (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.
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