Pranav B Prem

Justice K. Vinod Chandran was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court today at 10.30 AM. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna administered the oath of office to Justice Chandran. His appointment was notified by the Central Government on January 14, 2025, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium earlier in the week. Justice Chandran was serving as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court prior to his elevation.

Justice Vinod Chandran began his judicial career as a Judge of the Kerala High Court on November 8, 2011. After serving more than a decade at the Kerala High Court, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on March 29, 2023. His judicial tenure has been marked by extensive experience across diverse fields of law.

In recommending his elevation, the Supreme Court Collegium stated the importance of ensuring representation from the Kerala High Court on the Supreme Court Bench. The Collegium noted that with the retirement of Justice C.T. Ravikumar earlier this month, there was no representation from Kerala on the Supreme Court.

The Collegium, led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna, highlighted: “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 noted Justice Chandran’s judicial acumen, leadership, and experience gained during his tenure. It observed: “He 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.”

At the Supreme Court, Justice K. Vinod Chandran will serve until April 25, 2028.