The Hindu : Pattanaik sworn in CJI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 09, 2002

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Pattanaik sworn in CJI

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI NOV. 8. Justice Gopal Ballav Pattanaik, seniormost Judge of the Supreme Court, was today sworn-in as the 32nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He succeeds Justice B.N. Kirpal, who retired yesterday.

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, administered the oath of office to Mr. Justice Pattanaik at a brief ceremony at Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

Mr. Justice Pattanaik, who is the third CJI to adorn the office this year, will have a short tenure of 41 days. He is due to retire on December 18. Justice V.N. Khare will become the fourth CJI to assume office on December 19 and he will have a 16-month tenure till May 2, 2004.

This is for the first time in the 52-year history of the apex court that four Chief Justices adorn the office in a single year. Justice S.P. Bharucha, who became the CJI on November 1, 2001, retired on May 5, followed by Mr. Justice Kirpal on November 7.

The Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the former President, K.R. Narayanan, Mr. Justice Kirpal, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, the Union Law Minister, Jana Krishnamurthy, the former Law Minister, Arun Jaitley, Cabinet Ministers, the Solicitor-General, Kirit Raval, former CJIs, former and present Supreme Court and High Court judges, and eminent lawyers attended the function.

Mr. Justice Pattanaik, who was enrolled as an advocate in February 1962, had practised in civil, criminal, constitutional and company cases in the Orissa High Court and had also appeared in the Supreme Court.

He was the State Government standing counsel from March 1, 1971 and additional Government advocate from July 19, 1974.

He worked as the Government advocate for more than four years.

He was appointed Judge of the Orissa High Court on June 1, 1983 and became the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on May 19, 1995 and appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on September 11, 1995.

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