15 October 2024, New Delhi – In a significant move, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, has recommended the appointment of four judicial officers as Judges of the High Court of Kerala. The officers recommended are Shri K V Jayakumar, Shri Muralee Krishna S, Shri Jobin Sebastian, and Shri P V Balakrishnan.
This recommendation follows the proposal made by the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court on 30 May 2024, in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues. The recommendation has received the concurrence of both the Chief Minister and the Governor of Kerala.
The Collegium’s decision is based on thorough scrutiny of the candidates’ credentials, including inputs from the Department of Justice and consultee-Judges familiar with the Kerala High Court’s operations. The selected candidates are considered to have good personal and professional reputations, and there are no adverse findings regarding their integrity.
Detailed Evaluation of the Candidates:
- Shri K V Jayakumar: Having joined the Judicial Service in December 2012, Shri Jayakumar is currently serving as Registrar (Vigilance) in the Kerala High Court. With a strong track record, the majority of the consultee-Judges found him suitable for the role. The Department of Justice also affirmed his integrity and reputation.
- Shri Muralee Krishna S: Joining the Judicial Service in March 2014, Shri Muralee Krishna has held various positions across the state. His suitability for the appointment was affirmed by two of the three consultee-Judges, with no negative remarks against him.
- Shri Jobin Sebastian: Currently Registrar (District Judiciary) since April 2024, Shri Sebastian has been serving in the Judicial Service since March 2014. Besides having a solid professional image, he belongs to a minority community, adding to his qualifications.
- Shri P V Balakrishnan: A judicial officer since March 2014, Shri Balakrishnan has also been deemed fit for the position based on his professional performance and integrity.
The Collegium has resolved that the four recommended officers shall rank below Shri P Krishna Kumar, whose elevation was proposed earlier but is pending government approval.
This recommendation is a step forward in bolstering the judiciary of Kerala, ensuring that well-qualified officers ascend to important roles within the High Court.
