SC Collegium recommends Patna High Court Chief Justice for top court

Justice Chandran, it said, was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Kerala on November 8, 2011 and was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on March 29, 2023.

“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,” the Collegium said.

“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 statement said. The statement pointed out that Justice Chandran stands at serial number 13 in the combined all-India seniority of High Court judges and at serial number 1 In the seniority of judges hailing from the High Court of Kerala.

The Collegium said that “while recommending his name” it “has taken into consideration the fact that there is no representation on the Bench of the Supreme Court from the High Court of Kerala.”

Justice C T Ravikumar who was from the High Court of Kerala retired on January 5, 2025. The Supreme Court, which has a sanctioned strength of 34, is currently working with 32 judges.

The Collegium also recommended the transfer of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, currently the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. Justice Upadhyaya, whose parent High Court is the Allahabad High Court, has a tenure as HC judge till 2030, even if not elevated to the Supreme Court.

The Collegium also recommended the transfer of Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.