Jayant Patel appointed as acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court

Ahmedabad

Justice Jayant Patel has been appointed as acting Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.

Patel replaced V M Sahai who retired as chief justice today after reaching the age of superannuation.

“Yesterday, we received a notification (from the Supreme Court of India) regarding the appointment of Justice Jayant Patel as the acting Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court,” High Court Registrar General B D Karia told PTI.

As per the HC website, Justice Patel (59), who hails from Veraval town in Junagadh district, graduated in commerce and law from M S University and started practising law in 1979.

During his three-decade career as advocate, Patel had appeared for central government, Railways and Income Tax department.

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court on December 3, 2001 and was confirmed as a permanent judge on August 9, 2004.

Justice Patel was one of the judges in a division bench of the HC that had directed the CBI inquiry in 2011 into Ishrat Jahan fake encounter killing case of 2004.(PTI)

PROFILE

Born on4.8.1956 at Veraval, Junagadh District.

Passed B.Com. and LL.B. from M. S. University, Baroda and LL.B. (Spc.) at Saurashtra University, Rajkot. Having first class educational career and was also awarded National Merit Scholarship while studying LL.B.

Entered Bar in August, 1979 and initially started practice at District court, Rajkot. In the year 1985 shifted to Gujarat High Court.

In November, 1990 appointed as Additional Central Govt. Standing Counsel and worked for 10 years and then was also made in-charge Sr. Central Govt. Standing Counsel.

Since 1998 appointed as Sr. Counsel to Railways, Govt. of India and continued posts till elevation.

Appointed as Counsel for the Income Tax Department during 1997-98.

Appointed as Standing Counsel for SAFEMA (Ministry of Finance), Govt. of India since 1991-92 and continued to work till elevation.

Represented large number of Banks, Panchayats, Municipalities and conducted large number of Constitutional matters, variety of civil as well as criminal matters on behalf of private parties as well as Central Government and had lucrative practice at the Bar.

Has keen interest in various methods of working in the system of administration of justice in various countries and also visited Courts at High Court and Supreme Court level in USA, England, France, Singapore, Germany.

Elevated as Additional Judge, High Court of Gujarat on December 3, 2001 and confirmed as permanent Judge on 09.08.2004.