In a significant development, the Central government approved the appointment of Patna High Court Chief Justice K Vinod Chandran as a judge of the Supreme Court of India. This announcement was made by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday, marking a pivotal moment in the judiciary’s ongoing efforts to fill vacancies in the apex court.
Justice Chandran, who has served as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court since March 23, 2023, was recommended for elevation by the Supreme Court Collegium on January 7. His appointment is seen as a move to bring experienced legal acumen from diverse fields of law to the Supreme Court. Before his tenure in Patna, Justice Chandran was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court on November 8, 2011, where he served for over a decade.
The Collegium’s resolution highlighted Justice Chandran’s extensive judicial service, noting his over eleven years as a High Court judge and more than a year as a Chief Justice of a major High Court. His all-India seniority and the need for representation from the Kerala High Court at the Supreme Court were also key considerations in his elevation.
Currently, the Kerala High Court lacks representation in the Supreme Court, a gap that Justice Chandran’s appointment will fill. He ranks first in seniority among judges from the Kerala High Court and thirteenth in all-India seniority of High Court judges.
