Shillong: Justice Sanjib Banerjee was on Wednesday sworn in as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court here, officials said.
Governor Satya Pal Malik administered the oath of office to him at the Raj Bhavan, while strictly observing all social distancing norms.
Justice Banerjee replaced Chief Justice Ranjit Vasantrao More who superannuated on November 3.
Meghalaya Law Minister James Sangma, Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew, Justice Wanlura Diengdoh were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Born on November 2, 1961, Justice Banerjee studied in St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Calcutta and St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling.
He graduated with honours in Economics in 1983 and LL.B. in the year 1986-87 – both from the University of Calcutta.
Justice Banerjee was enrolled as an Advocate on November 21, 1990, and practised principally in the High Court at Calcutta as well as in the Supreme Court of India, other High Courts and Tribunals, primarily in Civil, Company, Arbitration and Constitutional Law branches.
He is also specialised in Corporate and Intellectual Property Laws matters. Was elevated to the Bench of the High Court at Calcutta as a permanent Judge on June 22, 2006.
Justice Banerjee has delivered judgments in matters encompassing almost all branches including important public interest litigations.
However, Justice Banerjee sudden transfer to Meghalaya High Court had stirred widespread protests from lawyers at the Madras High Court.
These lawyers had protested Justice Banerjee’s transfer since he had just served just 10 months at the Madras High Court before being transferred and they felt that Justice Banerjee should have got a longer stint of the two-year term.
A group of 237 advocates practising at Madras High Court had also submitted a memorandum to the apex court collegium urging it to reconsider its decision and withhold the transfer. However, the Supreme Court collegiums stuck to its decision.
Meanwhile, in his farewell message to fellow judges, the Bar, the court registry and staff of Madras High Court, Justice Banerjee said he was “leaving with the happiest memories”.
He, however, voiced regret for not being able to demolish “the feudal culture completely” ever since he assumed office on January 4 this year.
