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Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi was sworn in as the 15th Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court today, July 5. The oath of office was administered by Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, several judges, and senior government officials. Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel read out the warrant of appointment issued by President Droupadi Murmu.
Appointment Background
Justice Sarangi, previously a judge at the Orissa High Court, was recommended for the position by the Supreme Court collegium in December last year. The position of Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court had been vacant since the superannuation of Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra on December 28, 2023. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice officially announced Justice Sarangi’s appointment on July 3.
#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: Dr Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi takes oath as the Chief Justice Of Jharkhand High Court pic.twitter.com/EratvPISb9
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024
Justice Sarangi’s term as Chief Justice will be notably brief, as he is set to retire on July 19, giving him a tenure of just under two weeks. This follows a pattern seen in recent appointments where judges have had short tenures as Chief Justices, such as Justice Ramesh Deokinandan Dhanuka at the Bombay High Court, Justice Sonia Gokani at the Gujarat High Court, and Justice Jaswant Singh at the Tripura High Court.
Retirement Age
It’s important to note that while Supreme Court judges in India retire at the age of 65, High Court judges retire at 62. Justice Shree Chandrashekhar has been serving as the acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court until Justice Sarangi’s appointment.
Justice Sarangi’s brief tenure will mark a significant yet short-lived period in the history of the Jharkhand High Court.
