Justice K Vinod Chandran Appointed as Supreme Court Judge: Centre Notifies Appointment

Centre Notifies Appointment of Justice K Vinod Chandran as Supreme Court Judge

The Government of India has officially appointed Justice K Vinod Chandran, previously the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, as a judge of the Supreme Court. This appointment fills one of the vacancies in the apex court, bringing the total number of judges closer to its sanctioned strength of 34.

Justice Chandran, born on April 25, 1963, graduated in law from Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram. He began his legal practice in 1991, initially at Paravoor, and later extended his practice to the High Court of Kerala. Between 2007 and 2011, he served as Special Government Pleader (Taxes) for the Government of Kerala. On November 8, 2011, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court and became a permanent judge on June 24, 2013. In March 2023, he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.

During his tenure at the Patna High Court, Justice Chandran presided over significant cases, including upholding the legality of the caste survey conducted in Bihar. A division bench led by him declared the survey valid, dismissing petitions that challenged its legitimacy.

The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, recommended Justice Chandran's elevation to the Supreme Court, emphasizing his extensive experience and the need for representation from the Kerala High Court in the apex court. The Collegium noted that Justice Chandran stood at number 13 in the combined all-India seniority list of high court judges and was the senior-most judge from the Kerala High Court.

With this appointment, the Supreme Court aims to enhance its judicial capacity and ensure a broader representation from various high courts across the country.

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