Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty took charge as the 11th chief justice of the Jharkhand high court (JHC) on Friday. Governor Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office and secrecy to him in a simple ceremony at Raj Bhawan here.
JHC has 13 judges, including the chief justice, against the total sanctioned strength of 25. The new chief justice inherits a backlog of more than three lakh cases pending in the high court and subordinate courts across the state.
Chief minister Raghubar Das, sitting and former judges of JHC, cabinet secretary, DGP, advocate general, Jharkhand State Bar Council chairman and guests besides relatives of the chief justice from Odisha, including his wife, attended the oath ceremony.
Justice Mohanty became the acting chief justice of JHC on October 7 last year after the retirement of the then chief justice, Virender Singh.
Born on June 10, 1955, justice Mohanty hails from a family of eminent jurists. His father late justice Jugal Kishore Mohanty was a judge of the Odisha high court and later became chief justice of Sikkim high court. His maternal grandfather late justice Rajkishore Das was also a judge of the Odisha high court.
Justice Mohanty was enrolled as a lawyer in 1978. He was elevated as a judge of the Odisha high court in 2002. He was transferred to JHC on April 11, 2016.
{{/usCountry}}Justice Mohanty was enrolled as a lawyer in 1978. He was elevated as a judge of the Odisha high court in 2002. He was transferred to JHC on April 11, 2016.
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