New Delhi, June 19: The Centre has appointed Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty as the Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, ensuring continuity in the functioning of one of the country’s oldest constitutional courts following the retirement of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.
The appointment was notified by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on Friday, a day before Chief Justice Sujoy Paul demits office upon attaining the age of superannuation on June 20, 2026.
According to the notification, the President has exercised powers under Article 223 of the Constitution of India to authorize Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice after the vacancy arises following the retirement of Chief Justice Paul.
Article 223 of the Constitution empowers the President to appoint a judge of a High Court to discharge the duties of the Chief Justice when the office falls vacant or when the Chief Justice is unable to perform official functions. The provision is intended to ensure uninterrupted administration of judicial work and institutional continuity within the High Courts.
The notification formally states that Justice Chakraborty will assume the responsibilities of Acting Chief Justice consequent upon the retirement of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul on June 20.
Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty has had a long association with the legal profession and the Calcutta High Court. Born on November 27, 1966, into a family of lawyers, he enrolled as an advocate on January 29, 1991, and practised before the Calcutta High Court for more than two decades.
During his years at the Bar, Justice Chakraborty primarily handled civil and constitutional matters, with a particular focus on service and education laws. He also developed expertise in constitutional law, appearing in a wide range of cases involving legal and administrative issues.
His elevation to the Bench came on October 30, 2013, when he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Calcutta High Court. He was subsequently confirmed as a permanent judge of the court on March 14, 2016.
The appointment comes at a significant administrative juncture for the Calcutta High Court, with the transition in leadership taking place immediately after the retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice. By invoking the constitutional mechanism provided under Article 223, the Centre has ensured that judicial and administrative functions of the High Court continue without interruption.
Justice Chakraborty will now discharge the duties of the Acting Chief Justice until further arrangements are made regarding the appointment of a permanent Chief Justice for the Calcutta High Court.
