JUSTICE G.B. PATTANAIK TO BE NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

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The President has appointed Shri Justice Gopal Ballav Pattanaik, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the next Chief Justice of India with effect from November 8, 2002 (forenoon). The warrants of appointment has been issued under Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India.

Shri Justice G.B. Pattanaik will succeed Shri Justice B.N. Kirpal, who retires on November 8, 2002.

Shri Justice G.B. Pattanaik, B.Sc., LL.B. was born on December 19, 1937. He was enrolled as an Advocate on February 28, 1962 and practised in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional and Company cases in the Orissa High Court and also appeared in the Supreme Court of India. He was the State Government’s Standing Counsel from March 1, 1971 and Additional Government Advocate from July 19, 1974. He worked as Government Advocate for more than four years. He was appointed as a judge of the Orissa High Court on June 1, 1983. He became the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court on May 19, 1995. He was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of India on September 11, 1995. He is due to retire on December 19, 2002.