NEW DELHI: Justice K Vinod Chandran was on Thursday sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court, taking its strength to 33 judges against a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office to Justice Chandran in a brief ceremony at 10:30 am here.
Prior to his elevation, Justice Chandran was the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The Centre on had on January 13 notified his appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Collegium of CJI Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice AS Oka had on January 7 unanimously recommended the elevation of Justice Chandran as a judge of the Supreme Court.
“Mr. Justice Chandran stands at Sl. No. 13 in the combined all-India seniority of High Court Judges. In the seniority of Judges hailing from the High Court of Kerala, Mr. Justice K. Vinod Chandran stands at Sl. No. 1. While recommending his name, the Collegium has taken into consideration the fact that there is no representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the High Court of Kerala,” the Collegium said in its resolution.
Justice Chandran was appointed as a judge of the Kerala High Court on November 8, 2011 and was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on March 23, 2023. He has been functioning as the Chief Justice of that High Court since then.
“He (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,” the Collegium said.