Justice MS Sonak appointed as CJ of Jharkhand HC

Justice Sonak will assume office after the retirement of the incumbent chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court, justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, on January 8

MUMBAI: The Centre on Friday notified the appointment of justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, a judge of the Bombay High Court, as the chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court, following a recommendation by the Supreme Court collegium on December 18, 2025.

Justice MS Sonak appointed as CJ of Jharkhand HC

Justice Sonak will assume office after the retirement of the incumbent chief justice of the Jharkhand High Court, justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, on January 8.

Born on November 28, 1964, Justice Sonak enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in October 1988. He practised at the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court. He served as additional standing counsel for the central government, special counsel for the state government, and counsel for several statutory corporations. He was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013, and was later confirmed as a permanent judge.

Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tweeted about the decision in a post on X, stating that the appointment was made by the president of India in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.