The Union government has approved the elevation of Justice MS Sonak, presently a judge of the Bombay High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
As per a statement issued by Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, in exercise of powers under Articles 217 and 222 of the Constitution of India, the President of India was pleased to appoint Justice MS Sonak as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand, pursuant to the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on December 18.
Justice Sonak will assume charge on January 8, following the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan. His elevation reflects the established convention of appointing senior puisne judges with extensive judicial and administrative experience to head constitutional courts.
Born on November 28, 1964, Justice Sonak completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School, Panaji, and graduated in science from Dhempe College of Arts and Science before obtaining his Bachelor of Laws degree in First Class from M.S. College of Law, Panaji, affiliated to the University of Bombay.
He was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in October 1988 and commenced practice at the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court. His professional work spanned civil and constitutional litigation, labour and service jurisprudence, environmental law, taxation and fiscal statutes, commercial and company law, as well as public interest litigation, frequently involving questions of statutory interpretation and enforcement of fundamental rights under Part III of the Constitution.
During his years at the Bar, Justice Sonak served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Union of India, Special Counsel for the State Government, and counsel for statutory corporations, thereby acquiring significant exposure to public law litigation and administrative decision-making. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013, and was subsequently confirmed as a permanent judge.
On the Bench, Justice Sonak has authored several notable decisions dealing with indirect taxation, commercial transactions, intellectual property, and personal liberty, often emphasising strict adherence to statutory safeguards and constitutional due process. His rulings have examined the scope of arrest powers, compliance with procedural mandates under fiscal and criminal statutes, and the limits of state authority in matters affecting individual rights.
In tax jurisprudence, his decisions have addressed classification disputes and the incidence of levy under sales tax and allied enactments, reinforcing principles of strict construction of taxing statutes. He has also contributed to the development of jurisprudence on personal autonomy and dignity, aligning judicial reasoning with evolving constitutional doctrine as articulated by the Supreme Court in landmark precedents.
Justice Sonak’s appointment would bring to the Jharkhand High Court a judicious blend of constitutional sensitivity, administrative acumen, and doctrinal clarity, consistent with the role envisaged for a Chief Justice under the constitutional framework of India.
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