In an important procedural development at the highest judicial forum, a prominent matter concerning the Jharkhand Public Service Commission has been reassigned to a different bench of the Supreme Court. The reallocation occurred after Justice Venkita Subramani Mohana opted to withdraw from hearing the proceedings. During the session, the court was formally apprised that prior to her elevation, she had represented some of the litigating parties in the same dispute during her tenure as an advocate.
Prior Professional Engagement Prompts Bench Reconstitution
The reassignment of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission case was undertaken to preserve judicial propriety and ensure complete neutrality in the resolution of the dispute. When the matter was called for consideration, the bench was informed that Justice Mohana had previously briefed and appeared on behalf of certain stakeholders connected to the litigation. In adherence to established legal conventions governing conflicts of interest, the matter was immediately placed before another bench.
The registry has scheduled the dispute for its next hearing on October 5 before the newly assigned bench. Meanwhile, counsel appearing for the petitioners pressed for urgent protective directions, urging the court to restrain authorities from initiating any punitive or coercive measures against students entangled in the controversy. Additionally, the petitioners have prayed for an explicit directive requiring the production of all first information reports registered in connection with the affair directly before the bench. The forthcoming October 5 proceeding is anticipated to outline the judicial roadmap regarding student protection and procedural compliance.
From Pollachi to the Highest Court of the Land
Justice Venkita Subramani Mohana, whose presence drew attention in the wake of the recusal, assumed office as a judge of the Supreme Court in recent months following the central government's approval of her appointment in June 2026. Her elevation represents a rare milestone in Indian legal history, making her only the second woman lawyer to be elevated directly from the bar to the Supreme Court bench. This precedent was originally established in 2018, when Justice Indu Malhotra was appointed directly from the bar to the apex court.
Born in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, Justice Mohana grew up in a large household alongside 13 siblings. Her father served in the military before joining the Tamil Nadu state administration as a senior entomologist, fostering an environment anchored in strict discipline and dedicated study. Although her mother had limited access to formal schooling, she recognized her daughter's natural aptitude for reasoned argument and public speaking, consistently encouraging her to pursue legal studies.
Foundational Years and Rise in the Legal Profession
Justice Mohana was part of an early institutional transition in Indian legal education. In 1983, she enrolled in the inaugural batch of the country's pioneering five-year integrated BA LLB programme, studying at the Coimbatore Law College. During those early days, academic infrastructure was rudimentary compared to modern standards, and lectures were frequently conducted inside rented premises. She completed her legal degree in 1988 before embarking on an extensive litigation career.
Her contemporary during those formative law school years was KV Viswanathan, who went on to serve as an Additional Solicitor General of India, attained the designation of senior advocate, and was later elevated to the Supreme Court bench as well. Over decades of rigorous practice before the apex court, Justice Mohana established a distinguished reputation, culminating in her designation as a senior advocate in 2015.
Her subsequent direct appointment from the bar to the Supreme Court bench in June 2026 capped a storied career. With her recusal ensuring impartial adjudication, attention now shifts to the October 5 hearing before the alternate bench, where arguments concerning the students and institutional accountability will take center stage.
