New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice D Krishnakumar, currently a judge of the Madras High Court, for the position of Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. This vacancy will occur following the retirement of Justice Siddharth Mridul on November 21, 2024.
The Collegium, which includes Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant, stated that Justice Krishnakumar is proposed to take over as Chief Justice from the date of Justice Mridul’s retirement. Appointed to the Madras High Court on April 7, 2016, Justice Krishnakumar is the senior-most puisne judge there and is set to retire on May 21, 2025. Notably, he comes from a Backward Community.
The Collegium highlighted his extensive background in civil, constitutional, and service law, as well as his specialization in constitutional matters. They praised him as a competent judge with strong legal insight, integrity, and honesty.
In making this recommendation, the Collegium also noted that there is currently only one Chief Justice from the Madras High Court among all High Court Chief Justices. Considering all relevant factors, they concluded that Justice D Krishnakumar is well-qualified for the Chief Justice role in Manipur and formally recommended his appointment upon Justice Mridul’s retirement.