Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court on Friday. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to him at a ceremony held at Lok Bhawan.
Justice Sonak succeeds Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, whose tenure as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court concluded on January 08. Justice Sonak will serve as the Chief Justice till November 28, 2026.
Born on November 28, 1964, Justice MS Sonak completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School in Panaji, Goa. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Dhempe College of Arts and Science and later completed his LL.B. from M.S. College of Law, Panaji, affiliated with Bombay University, securing First Class.
Justice Sonak was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in October 1988. He practised extensively at the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court, handling a wide range of cases related to civil and constitutional law, labour and service matters, environmental law, commercial and tax laws, company law, and public interest litigation.
During his legal career, he also served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government, Special Counsel for the State Government, and represented several statutory corporations. He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013.
Justice Sonak’s appointment comes as part of a broader reshuffle of Chief Justices of various High Courts, approved by the Centre on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
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