Justice K Vinod Chandran Sworn In as Supreme Court Judge

Justice K Vinod Chandran, the Chief Justice of Patna High Court, is set to take the oath as a judge of the Supreme Court on Thursday. With his appointment, the Supreme Court will have 33 judges, just one short of its full strength of 34 until January 31 when Justice Hrishikesh Roy retires. Justices Abhay S Oka, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and Bela M Trivedi are also set to retire in 2025.

A Career in Law

Justice Chandran, born in Paravur in Ernakulam district in 1963, had an unconventional start to his legal career. He initially pursued a career in banking with the State Bank of Travancore but later enrolled as a law student at the Kerala Law Academy in Kochi. Despite the doubts raised by many about quitting a secure job, Justice Chandran believed that those who take risks often find success.

Appointed by the Supreme Court Collegium

The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Chandran for appointment as a Supreme Court judge on July 7. Justice Chandran will serve a tenure of over three years and is expected to retire on April 24, 2028. His journey to the Supreme Court is marked by significant achievements and commitments to justice.

Key Legal Contributions

Justice Chandran’s efforts in addressing the backlog of tax cases earned him recognition. His proactive approach in tackling legal issues led to his appointment as a judge of the Kerala High Court on November 8, 2011. Serving for over a decade, Justice Chandran’s significant contributions to judicial reforms include:

• Guiding a study opposing the unpreparedness of government pleaders.
• Supporting the rights of two Muslim girls to wear hijab during the CBSE All-India Pre-Medical Entrance Test.
• Criticizing the conduct of prosecutors that led to offenders escaping justice.
• Overseeing a challenge to Bihar’s caste-based survey.
• Deciding against including transgender persons as a separate caste category in the survey.

Leadership at Patna High Court

As the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court since 2023, Justice Chandran introduced several e-Initiatives, including the e-Indian Law Report (Patna Series) to enhance accessibility to Supreme Court and Patna High Court judgments in English and Hindi.

Controversial Yet Commendable

Justice Chandran’s career is marked by controversies and commendable decisions. His bold moves to address inefficiencies and advocate for equal rights reflect his unwavering commitment to judicial integrity and justice.