Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi took oath as the 15th chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court today (July 5). Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Sarangi at the Raj Bhavan.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato attended the swearing-in ceremony, besides several judges and senior government officials. Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel read out the warrant of appointment issued by President Droupadi Murmu.
The post of the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court was lying vacant after the superannuation of Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra on December 28, 2023. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice on July 3 issued a notification regarding the appointment of Justice Sarangi as the chief justice of the high court.
Appointed as the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday (July 3), Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi will demit office on July 19 and will have a brief tenure of nearly a fortnight.
Justice Sarangi to retire on July 19
Justice Sarangi was a judge of the Orissa High Court. His name was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium in December last year. Justice Shree Chandrashekhar is the acting chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
There have been instances in the recent past when the judges elevated as chief justices had a very short tenure. Justice Ramesh Deokinandan Dhanuka appointed as the chief justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Sonia Gokani was appointed as the chief justice of the Gujarat HC and Justice Jaswant Singh as the chief justice of the Tripura High Court had brief tenures.
While the Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65 years, the high court judges demit office at the age of 62.
