Justice Krishnan Vinod Chandran, former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, was on Thursday sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office and secrecy to Justice Chandran.
On January 13, the Government of India had notified the elevation of Justice KV Chandran as a judge of the Supreme Court.
The news was shared on social media by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal.
On January 7, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the appointment of Justice Chandran as an Apex Court judge.
In its resolution, the Collegium noted that Justice Chandran has served as a Judge of the High Court for more than 11 years and as a Chief Justice of a big High Court for more than a year. During his long tenure as a Judge and Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice Chandran has acquired significant experience in diverse fields of law.
It further considered his all-India seniority as well as the fact that Kerala High Court has no representation in the Supreme Court at present.
The decision was taken keeping in mind Justice Chandran’s all-India seniority (he stood at Sl. No. 13 in the combined all-India seniority of High Court judges), as well as the fact that there was no representation on the Apex Court Bench from the Kerala High Court.
The Collegium further noted that in seniority of Judges hailing from the Kerala High Court, Justice Chandran stood at Sl. No. 1.
Justice Chandran was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court on November 8, 2011.
He was elevated as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on March 23, 2023.
With the appointment of Justice Chandran, the Supreme Court now has a strength of 33 judges as against its sanctioned strength of 34.
Justice Chandran will have a tenure of over three years. He is set to retire on April 24, 2028.