Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Appointment of Justice D. Krishnakumar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court

On November 18, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium issued a resolution recommending the appointment of Justice D. Krishnakumar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. The resolution was passed by the SC Collegium constituting Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice BR Gavai. The Collegium recommended that Mr. Justice D. Krishnakumar be appointed as the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court consequent upon the retirement of Mr. Justice Siddharth Mridul on November 21, 2024. The recommendation to appoint Justice D. Krishnakumar was made as per Para 3 of the Memorandum of Procedure, “A fair representation shall be given to various High Courts for selection of Chief Justices. For purposes of such selection, inter-se seniority of puisne Judges will be reckoned on the basis of their seniority in their own High Court. The consideration for appointment of Chief Justices shall be based on the criterion of seniority subject to merit and integrity.”

The resolution reads, “It is proposed to appoint Mr. Justice D. Krishnakumar, presently serving as a Judge of the Madras High Court, as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur with effect from the date on which the incumbent Chief Justice demits office on retirement.” On April 07, 2016, Mr. Justice D. Krishnakumar was appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court and is due to retire on 21st May 2025. He is the senior-most puisne Judge in his parent High Court and belongs to a Backward Community. Before his elevation as a Judge of the High Court, he had extensive practice in Civil, Constitutional, and service matters in the High Court, specializing in Constitutional law. He is a competent judge with sound legal acumen. He is endowed with a high level of integrity and honesty. While recommending Justice Krishnakumar’s name, the SC Collegium considered that there is currently only one Chief Justice from the Madras High Court among the Chief Justices of the High Courts. 

Lastly, the resolution reads, “Having regard to all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Mr. Justice D. Krishnakumar is fit and suitable in all respects for being appointed as the Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur.”