IndianVoter.comVoter help ↗
AI illustration
THE CONSTITUTION, MADE UNDERSTANDABLE

Article 127
Appointment of ad hoc Judges

Start with a question. Discover the Preamble, Articles, Parts, Schedules and amendments — with plain-language guides beside the official text.

Start exploring ↓
26 Parts12 Schedules506 indexed article entries, including historical omissions
BROWSE / SEARCH / READ

Search. Read. Understand.

Search by number, title or full text. Lettered provisions are included.

Source edition: as on 1 May 2026. Omitted and struck-down reference entries remain labelled. Open the authoritative PDF ↗

Article 127 / Part V

Appointment of ad hoc Judges

included in edition
Plain languageOfficial textPurpose & sources
Open official PDF at this provision ↗
THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDE

What does this mean?

Ad hoc judges can attend Supreme Court sittings when the required quorum is unavailable, using the consultation and consent process stated here. The provision is a special capacity mechanism.

The Union's President, ministers, Parliament, Supreme Court and Comptroller and Auditor-General.

PURPOSE & CONTEXT

Why is this provision here?

The superior judiciary needs a defined jurisdiction, staffing and procedural framework to perform the specific judicial function described above.

Historical evidence

This Article number belongs to the original constitutional framework, but its present wording may include later amendments or substitutions. A provision-specific original Assembly debate has not been verified here. The explanation of function above is editorial inference from the text, not an attributed single motive of the framers. The original draft-making archive is a research resource, not proof of a particular historical reason. The later amendment records linked below document changes affecting this Article; their Bill statements explain those proposals, not necessarily every original clause or the complete present legal outcome.

The explanation of purpose is an editorial reading of the provision. A drafting motive is attributed only where a linked historical source supports it.

Limits, exceptions & reading carefully

Educational summary of the linked source text. Exceptions, provisos, implementing laws and applicable judgments must be read before applying it to a real case.

Amendment references
Keep exploring
Read the official constitutional text
127. Appointment of ad hoc Judges.—(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.
Source-page notes · may concern neighbouring Articles

1. 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. 2. Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for "the Chief Justice of India" (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. Ins. by the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Act, 1963, s. 3 (w.e.f. 5-10-1963).

Extracted from the Legislative Department’s May 2026 edition. Page footnotes may refer to neighbouring provisions; check their markers in the PDF. Inclusion in this edition does not by itself establish commencement or judicial effect.