Justice Dipak Misra Sworn In As 45th Chief Justice Of India: Know About Him
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Justice Dipak Misra Sworn In As 45th Chief Justice Of India: Know About Him

Justice Dipak Misra was appointed as the 45th Chief Justice of India (CJI) on August 28, 2017, replacing Justice JS Khehar.

He was administered the oath of office by President Ram Nath Kovind during a brief ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Misra became the Chief Justice of Patna High Court in 2009 and in 2010 he became the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.

He will preside over the apex court for 13 months and six days.


Justice Misra’s important verdicts include the conviction of Mumbai blast sole condemned Yakub Memon, the death penalty for four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya rape case and sentencing Justice Karnan to six months imprisonment for contempt of court.

Justice Misra-headed benches have upheld the constitutional validity of Sections 499 and 500 of IPC. Section 499 and Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code make defamation a criminal offence under law.

He had also made headlines when the bench he was leading declared it mandatory to stand when the National Anthem plays in cinema halls.


There have also been allegations against Justice Misra including acquiring land in Odisha by questionable means and over his name appearing in the suicide note by former Arunachal Chief Minister Kalikho Pal.

With the exit of former CJI Justice Khehar, the country awaits to witness how CJI Misra will lead India’s top court.

With the Supreme Court’s recent verdict of declaring privacy as a fundamental right, the Aadhaar Constitution Bench has lost its lead judge, former CJI Khehar, with the appointment of Misra. In an India where privacy is a fundamental right, many important debates will be impacted, including Aadhaar, Section 377, RTI, data security, beef and cattle slaughter bans etc.

Under Misra’s leadership, the Babri Masjid dispute and the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for appointment of judges might also witness resolutions.

Chief Justice Misra will retire on October 2, 2018.

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Editor : Sudhanva Shetty Shetty

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