Vijay Bishnoi

Early life

Justice Vijay Bishnoi was born in Jodhpur on 26 March 1964. 

Career as an Advocate 

After completing his legal education, Justice Bishnoi enrolled as an advocate on 8 July 1989 and started practicing in the Rajasthan High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal. His area of practice was civil, criminal, Constitutional, service and election-related matters. 

Career as a Judge

Justice Bishnoi was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Rajasthan High Court on 8 January 2013. He took oath as a Permanent Judge of the High Court on 7 January 2015. He was elevated as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on 5 February 2024. 

On 26 May 2025, the Supreme Court Collegium led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai recommended his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court. His appointment was confirmed by the Union on 29 May. 

Justice Bishnoi is expected to serve a tenure of three years and nine months. He will retire on 25 March 2029. 

Notable judgements 

At the Rajasthan High Court 

In State of Rajasthan v Vikramjeet Singh @ Vika Virk (2018) directed an accused to provide his voice samples in a criminal case. He stated that the misuse of technology by criminals can only be countered by its good use. He observed that an accused does not incriminate himself by providing his voice sample as evidence. It will only facilitate the investigation and would not be used in testimony. 

As Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court

In Advocate General, Assam vs Anil Kumar Bhattacharyya (2025), Justice Bishnoi held that members of the Bar Association should not use their platform to appease their vendetta against a judge or scandalise the Court. This was in light of contempt proceedings initiated against the President of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association where he allegedly made contemptuous remarks against a sitting judge. The Supreme Court, however, has stayed the proceedings against the President of the Bar Association with a new listing date. In the meantime, Justice Bishnoi has been elevated to the Supreme Court. 

In Zofa Welfare Organization vs State of Mizoram (2024) a Bench headed by him threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against the Mizoram government pointing out that the state government was not willing to set up the State Human Rights Commission as per the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act of 1993 and as per the directions given by the Supreme Court in Dilip Kumar Basu v State of West Bengal (2015).  The Bench granted the state two months time as a final opportunity. The High Court’s intervention finally ensured compliance. 

In Dasarath Ray v The State of Assam (2024), a Bench headed by him held that an anticipatory bail application preferred by a juvenile under Section 438 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 or under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is maintainable. Relying on personal liberty as a fundamental right under Article 21, the Bench held that if adults can seek anticipatory bail when they apprehend arrest, children in conflict with the law should not be denied this same liberty under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. 

In Pramod Kalita v The Union of India (2024),, a Bench he led ruled that the Assam Government’s proposed denotification of the Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary is unwarranted, given that the High Court affirmed the sanctuary’s notification and an SLP against that decision is pending in the Supreme Court.