Justice Mukundakam Sharma was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court at a function on Monday. Haryana Governor AR Kidwai, who is officiating as the Lt Governor of Delhi as BL Joshi is on vacation, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Justice Sharma at Raj Niwas.
Sixty-year-old Justice Sharma succeeds Justice Markandeya Katju who was elevated to the Supreme Court in April this year. Justice Vijender Jain, who has taken charge as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, had officiated as the Acting Chief Justice in the interim period.
Born on September 18, 1946, Justice Sharma enrolled as an advocate in 1970 and practised in the Guwahati High Court in constitutional, service, civil, taxation matters etc. He also worked as panel and government lawyer for Assam and Manipur and also the Indian Railways.
He was the standing counsel for Mizoram from 1981 to 1988 and the Advocate General of the same from 1988 to 1989. He also worked as Advocate General for Nagaland from April 1992 to January 1994.
Associated with research work in Law Research Institute, Guwahati High Court, he gave legal shape to the customary laws of the tribes of the North-East.
Justice Sharma was a Judge in the Guwahati High Court and Patna High Court before being transferred to Delhi High Court on December 12, 1994.
{{/usCountry}}Justice Sharma was a Judge in the Guwahati High Court and Patna High Court before being transferred to Delhi High Court on December 12, 1994.
{{/usCountry}}A large number of sitting as well as retired judges of the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, judicial officers, Bar council members and office-bearers of various Bar associations as also Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her cabinet colleagues were among those who attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Email Harish Nair: harish.nair@hindustantimes.com