Central government approves Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Aravind Kumar as Supreme Court judges

Central government approves Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Aravind Kumar as Supreme Court judges

The Collegium had recommended their elevation on 31 January

The Central government has cleared the appointment of Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Aravind Kumar as judges of the Supreme Court.

The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, the Hon'ble President of India has appointed Chief Justices of the high courts as judges of the Supreme Court. My best wishes to Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Rajesh Bindal, and Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, Aravind Kumar."

While Justice Bindal is currently serving as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Kumar is the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.

Justice Bindal was appointed a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2006 and the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court in 2021. In terms of seniority, he is the second-most senior judge among the high court judges in the country.

While recommending his name, the Collegium had observed that his parent Punjab and Haryana High Court, one of the largest high courts, was not adequately represented in the apex court.

Justice Kumar was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2009 and confirmed as a permanent judge in 2012. He was elevated as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in 2021.

Presently the 26th senior-most judge among high court judges in terms of all-India seniority, Justice Kumar is also the Karnataka High Court's second-senior-most judge.