New Delhi: Justice K Vinod Chandran was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court on Thursday, with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna administering the oath of office.
The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Justice Chandran’s elevation to the apex court on January 7, a proposal that was subsequently approved by the Central government on January 13.
Justice Chandran began his judicial career as a judge of the Kerala High Court on November 8, 2011.
On March 23, 2023, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, where he served for over a year before his appointment to the Supreme Court.
The Collegium, in its resolution recommending Justice Chandran’s elevation, highlighted his extensive judicial experience spanning over 11 years as a High Court judge and more than a year as a Chief Justice. The resolution also noted that Justice Chandran has made significant contributions to diverse fields of law throughout his judicial career.
Additionally, the Collegium emphasized Justice Chandran’s seniority, ranking him 13th in the combined all-India seniority of High Court judges. Notably, he holds the top position in seniority among judges from the Kerala High Court, which currently has no representation in the Supreme Court.
“With the appointment of Justice Chandran, the Supreme Court now has 33 judges, just one short of its sanctioned strength of 34,” the Collegium stated, underlining the importance of regional representation in the country’s highest court.
Justice Chandran’s elevation not only reinforces the representation of Kerala in the judiciary but also brings his vast legal expertise and leadership experience to the Supreme Court bench.
