The Supreme Court Collegium has endorsed Advocate Sreeja Vijayalakshmi for appointment as a judge of the Kerala High Court, marking a significant step in her judicial career. The recommendation was made public on Tuesday, following detailed evaluations and a positive clarification from the Kerala High Court Collegium.
This decision comes after initial hesitations last month when the Supreme Court Collegium deferred Vijayalakshmi’s nomination due to concerns raised by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice. The High Court Collegium had first proposed her name in December 2023.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai, reviewed the materials on record, which included a crucial report dated March 21, 2024, from the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. “After scrutinizing and evaluating the material, including the recent report from the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala, we find Smt Sreeja Vijayalakshmi fit and suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Kerala,” stated the Supreme Court Collegium.
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The Supreme Court’s request for a follow-up from the Kerala High Court Collegium came after initial inputs from the Department of Justice. The subsequent report from March 21, prepared by the High Court’s Chief Justice in consultation with other Collegium members, confirmed Vijayalakshmi’s eligibility and integrity, paving the way for the Supreme Court’s endorsement.
“The inputs provided by the Department of Justice have been duly considered and clarified by the Collegium of the High Court. Given these clarifications, there is no reason to reject the recommendation made by the High Court Collegium,” the Supreme Court Collegium noted.
