NEW DELHI, Nov 18: The Supreme Court collegium has made a significant announcement on Monday, recommending Justice D Krishnakumar—a judge from the Madras High Court—as the next Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. This decision comes as Justice Siddharth Mridul, the current chief justice, is set to retire on November 21, 2024.
A resolution dated November 18 affirmed that this recommendation adheres to the memorandum of procedure (MoP) that guides the appointment of chief justices. The MoP emphasizes essential criteria such as seniority, merit, and integrity in the selection process. The collegium responsible for this recommendation includes Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices Bhushan R Gavai and Surya Kant.
The proposal is now awaiting approval and subsequent notification from the Union government. It is noteworthy that Justice Mridul’s appointment to the Manipur High Court faced a delay of over three months prior to its clearance in October 2023.
According to the resolution, Justice Krishnakumar is the senior-most puisne judge in the Madras High Court and possesses extensive experience in civil, constitutional, and service law, with particular expertise in constitutional matters. His appointment is anticipated to provide fair representation from the Madras High Court, which has only one chief justice among the 25 high courts across the country.
Justice Krishnakumar was appointed to the Madras High Court in April 2016 and comes from a backward community, a detail the resolution highlights as an important factor in promoting diversity within the judiciary. His term as chief justice, however, will be short-lived, as he is scheduled to retire in May 2025.
Justice Krishnakumar will step into this role during a tumultuous period for Manipur as the state is currently experiencing escalating violence and unrest that began in May 2023. The state has seen ongoing issues of rioting, arson, and targeted attacks, prompting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convene an emergency meeting on Monday following his unexpected return to Delhi from Maharashtra. Additionally, Chief Minister N Biren Singh faces growing dissent within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid the state’s deteriorating law-and-order situation.
