Justice Sharma to take over as acting CJ

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 18

Justice Rajiv Sharma is expected to take over as the acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as Justice Krishna Murari is expected to be administered the oath as a judge of the Supreme Court on Monday.

Justice Sharma, the senior-most judge after the Chief Justice, was administered oath as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November last year after this transfer from the Uttarakhand High Court, where he remained Acting Chief Justice.

Known for concerns for nature and environment, Justice Sharma has delivered landmark judgments such as granting living entity status to river Ganga and the animal kingdom. Justice Sharma has also delivered important judgments such as deletion of caste from FIRs, directives for preventing suicides by farmers, abolishing centuries’ old system of solitary confinement of death penalty convicts.

Justice Rajiv Sharma is also known for his unending tirade against drug menace in the region and series of other reformist orders in the realm of education, health and mental health. A Bench headed by Justice Sharma also ordered cracked down on encroachments in Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, sources said Chief Justice Murari will relinquish the charge on Saturday. Known for his integrity, hard work, dedication and liberal attitude, Justice Murari was respected for his practise on the civil side and was considered proficient in company matters and consolidation cases before being called to the Bench.

Born on July 9, 1958, Justice Murari was elevated as Additional Judge on January 7, 2004, and took oath as a Permanent Judge on August 18, 2005.