[2] He served as amicus curiae for a case that decided whether a Christian father under an obligation to maintain his minor child[5] just before being elevated to the High Court Bench.

On 18 July 2014, the president of India appointed Joseph as the next chief justice of Uttarakhand, on the recommendation of then CJI Rajendra Mal Lodha.

[3][6][4] A bench headed by Justice Joseph had quashed the imposition of President's Rule in 2016 by the Narendra Modi led BJP government in the state of Uttarakhand.

[7] While being a judge at the Kerala HC, a bench that included Joseph ordered the demolition of Kapico resorts constructed illegally on Nediathuruthu Island in Alappuzha district.

"By not elevating a highly competent judge like Justice Joseph, the collegium was setting an unhealthy precedent", he added in the note.

There were media reports speculating that the government had returned the files recommending to elevate Joseph to the Supreme Court.

CJI Dipak Misra sternly rebuked lawyers while the Supreme Court not only refused to stay Malhotra's appointment, but also termed the petition as unimaginable, unthinkable, inconceivable and never heard of.

[15] The government's extraordinary step provoked outrage among opposition parties and questions from the legal fraternity, but the Chief Justice said: "If the centre has segregated the recommendation and sent one of the names for reconsideration, then they are within their rights.