Justice Harish Tandon on Wednesday took oath as the 35th Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court.
The oath was administered by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati in the presence of High Court judges and members of the Bar.
Appointment & Recommendation
Justice Tandon’s appointment was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on March 6, 2025, as he was the senior-most puisne judge of the Calcutta High Court. The Centre officially notified his appointment on March 21, 2025. The Collegium highlighted his extensive experience in civil law, integrity, and competence as reasons for his elevation.
Educational Background & Career
Born on November 16, 1964, Justice Tandon completed his graduation from Calcutta University in 1983 and earned his LL.B. degree in 1989. He was enrolled with the Bar Council of West Bengal the same year and practiced mainly in the Calcutta High Court, specializing in civil and constitutional cases. He also appeared before the City Civil Court, Debt Recovery Tribunal, and the Supreme Court. In April 2010, he was appointed as a permanent judge of the Calcutta High Court.
Justice Tandon will serve as Chief Justice for nearly 20 months unless he is elevated or transferred, with his retirement scheduled for November 15, 2026.
Vacancy In High Court
His appointment comes after the Orissa High Court remained without a permanent Chief Justice for nearly two months following the retirement of former Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh on January 19, 2025. During this period, senior-most judge Justice Arindam Sinha served as the Acting Chief Justice. Justice Sinha has been recommended for transfer to the Allahabad High Court, though the Centre has not yet approved it.
Judges Strength
With Justice Tandon’s appointment, the working strength of the Orissa High Court has increased to 19 judges, though this will soon drop to 18 once Justice Sinha is transferred. The court has a sanctioned strength of 33 but has seen no new appointments since September 2023.
Three more vacancies are expected by the end of next year with the retirement of Justices Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Chittaranjan Dash, and Ananda Chandra Behera.
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