Gujarat HC CJ Sunita Agarwal elevated to SC; Senior Most Justice Pathak Likely Acting Chief Justice

Ahmedabad: The Government of India has notified the elevation of three Chief Justices of High Courts to the Supreme Court, including Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal. The new Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court is not appointed as of now.

Following Justice Agarwal’s elevation, Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak, the senior-most judge of the Gujarat High Court, is likely to get charge as the Acting Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.

Justice Pathak was born on August 28, 1965, in Guwahati. He completed his education in Guwahati, graduated in Arts from St. Joseph’s College, Bengaluru, under Bangalore University, and obtained his LLB degree from the Government Law College, Panbazar, Guwahati, under Gauhati University.

He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh on September 12, 1990. He primarily practised in civil, constitutional, land acquisition and service matters.

Justice Pathak served as Standing Counsel for the Government of Tripura from 2004 until the bifurcation of the state. He also served as a member of the Law Commission of Assam and the Indian Law Institute. From February 2005, he was Standing Counsel for the Education Department of the Government of Assam and also served as Standing Counsel for the Gauhati High Court.

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court on May 22, 2013, and became a permanent judge with effect from November 12, 2018.

He was subsequently transferred to the Orissa High Court, where he served from July 21, 2025, to September 13, 2026. He was then transferred to the Gujarat High Court and assumed charge as a judge on September 14, 2026.

Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak —

• Date of birth: August 28, 1965
• Enrolled as advocate: September 12, 1990
• Elevated as Additional Judge, Gauhati HC: May 22, 2013
• Permanent Judge: November 12, 2018
• Joined Orissa High Court: July 21, 2025
• Joined Gujarat High Court: September 14, 2026
• Date of retirement: August 27, 2027
• Current position: Acting Chief Justice, Gujarat High Court