Gujarat HC CJ SJ Mukhopadhyaya elevated to Supreme Court

Ahmedabad, 9 September, 2011

Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Shri S.J.Mukhopadhyaya has been appointed as new Judge in Supreme Court of India. The President of India has issued warrant in this regard. On Friday, Shri Mukhopadhyaya was congratulated by his staff and Judges at Gujarat High Court. Shri Mukhopadhyaya may assume charge in a week or so.

Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyaya’s name was earlier cleared for elevation to the Supreme Court of India in a meeting of the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice Shri. S.H.Kapadia. The proposal was then sent to Union Law Ministry for clearance. As per convention, every State is represented by at least one judge at any point of time. Shri Mukhopadhyaya will represent Jharkhand. Also cleared were the names of Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court J.S.Khehar and Justice Ranjana Desai of the Bombay High Court as per a report. As per convention, every State is represented by at least one judge at any point of time.

In the apex court’s sanctioned strength of 31 judges. The present strength is 28. Six judges are due to retire in the next two months upon reaching the age of 65. The are: Justice V.S. Sirpurkar(August 21); Justice H.S. Bedi( September 4); Justice Mukundakam Sharma(September 17); Markandey Katju(September 19) and Justice R.V. Raveendran (October 14).

About Justice Mukhopadhyaya

Mr. Justice S.J.Mukhopadhaya born on 15th March,1950, is the son of Late Sarojendu Mukherjee who was himself a leading practitioner specially in Service law in Patna High Court. He passed B.Sc. examination in 1971 from Magadh University. He obtained his LL.B Degree in 1979 from Patna University. Enrolled as an Advocate on 18th May 1979 and practiced at Patna and Ranchi Bench of Patna High Court in Constitutional, Service, Civil and Criminal matters. He was designated as Senior Advocate in February, 1993.

Appointed as a Permanent Judge of the Patna High Court on 8th November, 1994. As a Judge, decided several important civil and Constitutional cases including deciding the vires of Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, wherein held that the limit of reservation of 50% as upheld by the Supreme Court of India, is equally applicable, so far as article 243D and/or Panchayat Raj Act is concerned. Also held in the said judgment that reservation for the seat of “Mukhiya” or “Pramukh” or “Adhyakchh”, reservation of solitary post amounts to 100% reservation which is not permissible. The permissible limit being 50%, therefore no reservation can be made for Mukhiya/Pramukh/Adhyakchh. By notification dated 14th November, 2000 became the Judge of the Jharkhand High Court w.e.f. 15th November 2000. Transferred to Madras High Court on 31.08.2006. Functioned as Acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court from 09.05.2008 to 18.05.2008. Active as senior most Judge in Madras High Court since then, Mr. Mukhopadhyay is now Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court appointed by the President of India.