The Orissa High Court is set to receive its 31st Chief Justice on Monday as Justice Mohammed Rafiq is going to take oath of the office of Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.
Justice Rafiq was discharging duties of Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court when the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer to Orissa High Court. The President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind on Thursday notified the proposed transfer. Justice Rafiq arrived in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
The office of Chief Justice of Orissa High Court fall vacant due to retirement of Justice KS Jhaveri on January 5, the High Court is functioning under Acting Chief Justice Sanju Panda.
Justice Mohammed Rafiq completed his B.Com in 1980, LL.B in 1984 and M.Com in 1986 from University of Rajasthan. He later on joined the Bar and practised as Advocate since July 1984. He worked as Assistant Government Advocate for the State of Rajasthan from July 15th 1986 to December 21st 1987 and Deputy Government Advocate from December 22nd 1987 to June 29th 1990. He also represented the Union of India as Standing Counsel from 1992 to 2001 before the High Court.He was appointed Additional Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan on January 7th 1999 and worked as such till his elevation to the Bench.
He practiced exclusively in Rajasthan High Court in almost all branches of law especially conducted constitutional matters, service matters, land acquisition cases, land revenue cases, preventive detention cases, customs & excise matters, railway claims cases, tax matters, company matters and criminal matters before the High Court. He was appointed as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court on 13th November, 2019.
-India Legal Bureau