Justice Vaidyanathan Appointed Acting Chief Justice Of Madras HC

The appointment comes after the retirement of present Acting Chief Justice T Raja.

President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice S Vaidyanathan as the Acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court, with effect from May 25, on Wednesday. The appointment comes after the retirement of present Acting Chief Justice T Raja.

In a communication, Rajinder Kashyap, Special Secretary to Government of India said, "In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint, Shri Justice S. Vaidyanathan, Judge of Madras High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from 25.05.2023 consequent upon the retirement of Shri Justice T. Raja, Acting Chief Justice, Madras High Court."

According to a report in The Hindu, S Vaidyanathan is expected to perform the duties of Chief Justice until the Centre decides on Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation to appoint a Chief Justice for Madras HC. The SC has recommended the appointment of Bombay High Court’s Additional Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala as the Chief Justice of Madras High Court.

The new acting Chief Justice Vaidyanathan was born on August 17, 1962 in Coimbatore. He did his schooling at Singaram Pillai High School in Villivakkam. He received an economics degree from DG Vaishnav College in 1982 and got BL degree from Madras Law College (now known as Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College). 

He enrolled as a lawyer in Madras High Court on August 27, 1986. He was elevated as an additional judge of Madras HC on October 25, 2013. 

He became a permanent judge on April 14, 2015. 

Vaidyanathan's grandfather served as Superintendent in Copyist Sector in Madras High Court until retirement in 1952. Justice Vaidyanathan's father V Subramanian was the founder-member of Madras Commerical Employees Union in 1946. He served as an Editor of Labour Law Books published by Madras Book Agency.