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K. V. Viswanathan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth26 May 1966

Age57 Years

BirthplaceKalpathy, Palakkad, Kerala

ProfessionJudge

NationalityIndian

K. V. Viswanathan Biography

K. V. Viswanathan is an Indian jurist from Palakkad, Kerala, who rose from a long career at the Supreme Court Bar to become a judge of the Supreme Court of

Early life and background

K. V. Viswanathan was born on 26 May 1966 in Kalpathy, Palakkad, Kerala, and grew up in a middle-class family with a legal background. He completed a five-year integrated degree in law and is an alumnus of Coimbatore Law College, Bharathiar University, where he was part of the institution's first batch. His roots are Malayali and his hometown is Palakkad.

Career

Viswanathan enrolled with the Bar Council of India in 1988 and began his legal practice in chambers in Coimbatore and later in Delhi. Early in his career he interned with criminal trial counsel K. A. Ramachandran in Coimbatore. After moving to Delhi, he practised under senior advocates C. S. Vaidyanathan and K. K. Venugopal, the latter of whom later served as Attorney General of India. He spent several years developing a national practice across a range of subjects.

Over roughly three decades at the Bar, Viswanathan handled matters before the Supreme Court and various High Courts in areas including constitutional law, criminal law, commercial law, insolvency law and arbitration. The Supreme Court recognised his standing at the Bar when it elevated him to the rank of senior advocate in April 2009. He was also appointed in 2013 as an Additional Solicitor General of India.

Viswanathan has been asked on multiple occasions to assist the Supreme Court as amicus curiae, reflecting the court's view of his expertise. He has also been involved with the editorial work of the Supreme Court Cases journal as a member of its editorial board and has delivered guest lectures at law schools and institutions across India, offering practical guidance to students and young practitioners.

Elevation to the Supreme Court

After a long career at the Bar, Viswanathan was recommended for elevation to the Supreme Court of India by the Supreme Court Collegium. On 16 May 2023 the collegium passed a resolution recommending his appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court, noting that his appointment would improve representation of the Bar on the court and that his experience and knowledge would be a valuable addition. Following government approval, he was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court on 19 May 2023, becoming one of the small number of lawyers elevated directly from the Bar to the bench of the Supreme Court.

Public profile

Physically, Viswanathan is listed as approximately 170 cm tall (about 5 feet 7 inches), with dark brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. His zodiac sign is Gemini. Public records list his nationality as Indian. Details about his marital status and spouse are not publicly recorded in the available material.

Views and professional perspective

In public remarks and interviews he has emphasised the need for broader criteria when appointing judges to the higher judiciary. He has argued for consideration of diverse areas of expertise, practical contributions such as pro bono work, and measures that promote representational diversity in judicial appointments rather than relying solely on indicators like tax records.

Latest updates

As of May 2023 K. V. Viswanathan serves as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, having been elevated directly from the Supreme Court Bar. His appointment followed decades of practice at the highest levels of the Indian legal system and roles including senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General of India.
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Recent Work

Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court on 19 May 2023 after recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium.

2023
Additional Solicitor General of India

Served as Additional Solicitor General, an appointment made in 2013.

2013
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Career Highlights

  1. Elevated to the Supreme Court as a judge in May 2023 after a long career at the Supreme Court Bar
  2. Designated senior advocate by the Supreme Court in April 2009
  3. Appointed Additional Solicitor General of India in 2013
  4. Praised by the Supreme Court collegium for wide experience across constitutional, criminal, commercial, insolvency and arbitration law
  5. Member of the Editorial Board of the Supreme Court Cases journal
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was K. V. Viswanathan born?

26 May 1966

What is K. V. Viswanathan known for?

Judge