Collegium nominates advocate Viswanathan; he could be CJI in 2030

NEW DELHI: The five-member collegium headed by CJI Chandrachud Tuesday recommended to the Centre to appoint Andhra HC chief justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and senior advocate KV Viswanathan as judges of the apex court.
If his name is cleared, Viswanathan will be in line to succeed Justice J B Pardiwala as the CJI on August 12, 2030, and will have a nine-month tenure in the top post.
Justice Mishra's appointment will ensure Chhattisgarh's first representation in SC, nearly 23 years after the state came into existence.

The recommendations came a day after two vacancies were created with the retirements of Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and M R Shah.
Viswanathan was on verge of being approved as SC judge last October
Senior advocate KV Viswanathan's name, along with that of some others, was on the verge of approval as Supreme Court judges last October by the collegium headed by then CJI U U Lalit. But the mechanism adopted by Lalit to clear the proposal through circulation instead of open discussion was objected to by then collegium members Justices Chandrachud and S A Nazeer, though it was backed by Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph.
On Tuesday, the current collegium of CJI Chandrachud and Justices Kaul, Joseph, Ajay Rastogi and Sanjiv Khanna passed a resolution recommending Viswanathan and Andhra Pradesh chief justice PK Mishra, highlighting their ability, integrity, experience and knowledge.
The collegium said Viswanathan's appointment will enhance the representation of the bar in the SC, which has Justice P S Narasimha as a direct appointee from the bar.
"Viswanathan is a distinguished member of the bar of the SC. His wide experience and profound knowledge will provide a significant value addition to the SC," it said.
Viswanathan was designated as senior advocate in 2009. "Viswanathan has a sound understanding of law and is known in the legal fraternity for his integrity and as an upright senior member of the bar,"it said.
Justice Mishra became a judge of Chhattisgarh HC on December 10, 2009, and was appointed CJ of Andhra Pradesh HC on October 13, 2021. Though his name figured at 21 in the all-India seniority list of judges, the non-representation of Chhattisgarh in the Supprme Court tilted the balance in his favour.
The collegium resolution said, "After carefully evaluating the merit, integrity and competence of eligible CJs and senior puisne judges of the HCs and also accommodating a plurality of considerations, the collegium finds Justice Mishra to be more deserving and suitable in all respects for being appointed as a judge of the SC."
The collegium explained why it chose Justice Mishra ahead of his senior colleague from Chhattisgarh HC Justice Pritinker Diwaker, at present the CJ of Allahabad HC. "Having considered all relevant factors, the collegium is of the view that Justice Mishra is worthy of appointment as a judge of the SC," it said.