Justice Dipankar Datta on Tuesday took the oath of the office of Chief Justice of Bombay High Court in the presence of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray.
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind in exercise of powers conferred in the clause 1 of the Article 217 of the Constitution of India made the appointment of Justice Dipankar Datta of Calcutta High Court on 23rd April, 2020 as a Chief justice of Bombay High Court.
Prior to the oath, the norms of social distancing were followed in a proper manner by the members present in the hall which were few in numbers. It was visible that everybody was wearing masks to avoid any kind of physical contact and for the containment of spreading Coronavirus infection as per the guidelines of the Central Government.
On arrival of Justice Dipankar Datta wearing the mask led by the police personnel, the Governor of Maharsahtra along with the CM Uddhav Thackeray also came in and thereafter, the sound of National Anthem of India “Jan Gan Man”was heard. With due permission from the Governor, Justice Dipankar Datta took an oath starting with “I, Dipankar Datta…………
Later, Justice Datta signed the official appointment document as a Chief Justice of Bombay High Court.
This is to mentioned that on 1st April, 2020 in the High Court at Calcutta, the letter received in reference with COVID 19 – Relief and services at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and was treated as a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution and Suo motu proceedings were initiated by the bench comprised of Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court and Justice Dipankar Datta.
The court then said that the invisible virus (COVID – 19) has been wreaking havoc all over the country. It is indeed unfortunate that the virus has spread even to the Andaman Islands, flanked by the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, at a distance in excess of 1500 kms. from the mainland.
“We wish to restate and remind all concerned, including the officers of the executive, that the judiciary is one organ of the State, which is regarded the country over for its independent and non-partisan approaches to problems. As an institution, it is there to supplement and complement the executive in times of dire need and in reality, as in the present case, has intervened to support the system rather than putting a spanner in the works”, said by the bench while hearing the suo moto case.
-India Legal Bureau