Collegium’s Decision
On Monday, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of Justice D. Krishnakumar, currently serving as a judge of the Madras High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. The recommendation was made during a meeting of the Collegium, which was headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and included Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant.
Vacancy in the Office of Chief Justice of Manipur High Court
The recommendation comes ahead of the retirement of Justice Siddharth Mridul, the current Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, who is set to retire on November 21, 2024. This retirement will create a vacancy, necessitating the appointment of a new Chief Justice. The Collegium emphasized the need for a timely appointment to fill this vacancy.
Justice D. Krishnakumar’s Profile
Justice Krishnakumar was appointed as a judge of the Madras High Court on April 7, 2016, and is due to retire on May 21, 2025. He is the senior-most puisne judge in his current High Court. Justice Krishnakumar belongs to a backward community and has extensive experience in civil, constitutional, and service law, with a particular specialization in constitutional law.
Collegium’s Rationale
In its recommendation, the Collegium noted Justice Krishnakumar’s competence, sound legal acumen, and high levels of integrity and honesty. The Collegium also took into consideration the current composition of Chief Justices in the High Courts, observing that there is currently only one Chief Justice from the Madras High Court. This, the Collegium felt, was an important factor in making the recommendation.
The Collegium concluded that Justice D. Krishnakumar is fit and suitable in all respects to be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. The recommendation is set to be implemented upon the retirement of Justice Siddharth Mridul on November 21, 2024.
