NewKerala.com

Justice M.S. Sonak Appointed Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court

The Centre has notified the appointment of Bombay High Court Judge Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. The appointment follows the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation and precedes the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan. Justice Sonak, with a background in civil, constitutional, and environmental law, was elevated to the Bombay High Court bench in 2013. This notification was part of a series of judicial appointments made by the government.

Key Points: Justice M.S. Sonak Appointed Chief Justice of Jharkhand HC

  • Appointment by President & CJI
  • Recommended by SC Collegium
  • Replaces retiring Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan
  • Extensive legal background
2 min read

Justice M.S. Sonak appointed as Chief Justice of Jharkhand HC

Justice Mahesh S. Sonak of Bombay HC appointed Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court. Learn about his career and the appointment process.

"The President... was pleased to appoint Justice Sonak as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. - Union Ministry of Law and Justice"

New Delhi, Jan 2

The Centre on Friday notified the appointment of Bombay High Court judge, Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, following the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice on January 8.

A notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice said that the President, in exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution of India and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), was pleased to appoint Justice Sonak as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.

The appointment comes in line with the recommendation of the CJI Surya Kant-led Supreme Court Collegium, which had earlier proposed the elevation of Justice Sonak, a judge of the Bombay High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, in view of the impending retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan.

Born on November 28, 1964, Justice Sonak completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School, Panaji, Goa. He obtained his B.Sc. degree from Dhempe College of Arts and Science and his LL.B. from M.S. College of Law, Panaji, affiliated to Bombay University.

Before elevation to the Bench, Justice Sonak enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in October 1988 and practised at the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court in civil and constitutional law, labour and service law, environmental law, commercial and tax laws, company law and public interest litigations.

During his career at the Bar, he served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central government and Special Counsel for the State government and statutory corporations.

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013.

On Thursday, the Centre notified the appointment and transfer of Chief Justices of High Courts of Kerala, Patna and Meghalaya. However, the apex court Collegium's proposal to appoint Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta of the Allahabad High Court as Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court is yet to be acted upon by the Centre.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see appointments being made in a timely manner before the incumbent retires. Hope this brings some stability to the Jharkhand HC, which has seen its share of pendency issues. Justice Sonak's background in constitutional law should be an asset.
R
Rohit P
Don Bosco, Panaji alumni here! Feeling proud to see a Goan judge rise to such a position. It's inspiring for students from smaller states. His journey from a college in Goa to the Bombay HC and now as a Chief Justice is remarkable.
S
Sarah B
While I respect the process, I wish the article had clarified why Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta's appointment for Uttarakhand is pending. Transparency in these appointments is crucial for public trust. The delay, even if procedural, raises questions.
V
Vikram M
His expertise in labour and service law is much needed. Jharkhand has a significant industrial and mining workforce. Hoping his tenure focuses on speedy justice for common people and tackles the backlog effectively. All the best, Sir!
K
Karthik V
The Collegium system seems to be working smoothly here. Appointing judges with such diverse practice backgrounds—from tax to environmental law—is good for the judiciary. Hope he brings reformative energy to the High Court.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50