Three HCS get new chief justices
CHANDIGARH: Justice Ravi Shankar Jha was on Sunday sworn in as new Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Justice Jha, who was earlier the acting chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, was sworn in as the 35th chief justice of the twin states' high court by Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singhm state assembly Speaker Rana K P Singh and Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh were also present at the event which was attended amongst other by the judges of the high court and the subordinate judiciary, an official release said.
The family members of the newly-appointed chief justice too were present on the occasion.
Justice Jha's appointment as the Punjab and Haryana High Court's chief justice was notified by the President on Thursday.
The post had fallen vacant following the elevation of Justice Krishna Murari to the Supreme Court last month. Pending appointment of a new chief justice, Justice Rajiv Sharma was officiating as the acting chief justice of high
court. Enrolled as an advocate in the Madhya Pradesh High Court in September 1986, Justice Jha, 58, practised on civil, revenue and constitutional matters at the high court at Jabalpur before being appointed as a judge in the same high court in 2007, the release said.
Meanwhile, Governor Kalraj Mishra on Sunday administered the oath of office to newly appointed Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Indrajit Mohanty. Singh, who is now t`he 37th Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, took the oath in English.
Chief Secretary D B Gupta read out the appointment warrant issued by President Ramnath Kovind.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Assembly Speaker C P Joshi, members of the state cabinet and government officials were present on the occasion.
Karnataka High Court judge Lingappa Narayana Swamy on Sunday also took oath as the 25th chief justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Justice Swamy, 60, was administered the oath of office by Governor Bandaru Dattatreya at the Raj Bhawan here.
Justice Swamy was appointed as the additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on July 4, 2007 and he became a permanent judge on April 17, 2009. He also remained the acting chief justice of the Karnataka High Court for over four months from January 17 to May 9 this year.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present on the occasion. After the swearingin ceremony, Swamy was presented a 'Guard of Honour' in the high court premises.
The 'Guard of Honour' was attended by Himachal Pradesh HC judges Sureshwar Thakur, Vivek Singh Thakur and Chander Bhushan Barowalia, besides judges of the Karnataka High Court, Swamy's family members and guests.
Advocate general Ashok Sharma, Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh Chairman Ramakant Sharma, Assistant Solicitor General of India Rajesh Sharma were also present in the ceremony.