Centre Notifies Appointment Of Justice Sonia Giridhar Gokani As Acting Chief Justice Of Gujarat High Court

The Central Government today notified the appointment of Justice Sonia Gokani, senior most puisne Judge of the Gujarat High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court with effect from the date Justice Aravind Kumar relinquishes the charge as Chief Justice of the High Court.

Justice Kumar has been elevated as the Judge of the Supreme Court.

The notification of the Centre issued in this regard reads thus:

"In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint, Miss Justice Sonia Giridhar Gokani, senior most puisne Judge of the Gujarat High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from the date Shri Justice Aravind Kumar relinquishes the charge as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court consequent upon his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India."

Justice Gokani will be the first woman judge to head the Gujarat High Court, however, her tenure will last for only a fortnight, as she i set to retire on Feb 25. 

It was on Feb 9 that the Supreme Court collegium recommended her name as the Chief Justice of the High Court.

She was appointed on 17 February 2011 as the Judge of the HC and she comes from the judicial service of the State of Gujarat.

"Besides being the senior most Judge, the appointment of Ms Justice Gokani as Chief Justice will bring a sense of inclusion and facilitate a representation for Judges drawn from the services in the office of Chief Justice," the collegium's statement of Feb 9 reads.