JK Maheshwari takes over as Sikkim Chief Justice

SAMIR NUGO

GANGTOK,: Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari was on Wednesday sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim.
Governor Ganga Prasad administered the oath of office to Justice Maheshwari at a brief function held at Raj Bhawan here today.
Justice Maheshwari replaces Justice Arup Kumar Goswami who has been posted to Andhra Pradesh High Court in a judicial transfer.
Chief Minister P.S. Golay, Cabinet ministers, Sikkim High Court Judges Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan, Legislative Assembly deputy Speaker, MLAs, Lok Sabha MP, Sikkim Lokayukta chairperson Justice A.P. Subba, chief secretary and DGP were present on the occasion. Senior officials of the State government, Raj Bhavan and High Court Registry, members of BAR and other dignitaries also attended the ceremony.
The swearing-in ceremony was followed by exchange of greetings.
Born on June 29, 1961, Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari hails from Joura in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.  He was earlier serving as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and was a Judge at the Madhya Pradesh High Court before that. He was a practicing lawyer in Gwalior before he got elevated to the bench.
The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on December 14, 2020 had recommended transfer of nine Judges/Chief Justices to various High Courts including Justice Maheshwari and Justice Goswami.
The Collegium's proposal to have the Chief Justices of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the Sikkim High Court switch places was given green light by the Central government through two notifications issued on that day.
Justice Maheshwari was heading the Andhra Pradesh High Court before being appointed the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court.
Likewise, Justice Goswami, who was appointed Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court on October 15, 2019, was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court today at Vijayawada.