Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar, Chief Justice

• 1. Adjudication of disputes from ancient times to modern era has changed with the growth of civilization. When the laws were codified and the process of adjudication regulated, the adjudication of disputes changed from individual-centric� to one of individual versus State�. Ever since the advent of Indian Constitution, the Judiciary one of the pillars of Democracy and Legislature each play an independent and important role catering to the needs of the people of Indian Democracy by creating the necessary infrastructure to address the large number of disputes brought to the Judicial System for resolution. Over the course of time and with the evolution of law and increase in litigation, the role of a Judge changed. The judicial infrastructure changed from a simple to a complex form with various tiers in the hierarchy. The adjudication process lengthened with the increase in the number of codified laws and the resultant litigations.
• 2. The growth in population fuelled a large number of commercial disputes between individuals and the State. New laws presented a challenge to the judicial system, calling upon the Institution to introspect on newer methods of resolution of disputes and for early resolution of the case.
• 3. A Judge, over a period of time, in addition to judicial duties had to take a proactive role as an Administrator in providing various frameworks and infrastructure for speedy adjudication of disputes. The bottom-line in this endeavor is to create sufficient judicial infrastructure for the growth of the Judiciary as an Institution, from the lower levels upto the Superior Court.
• 4. Access to justice is the hallmark of the new and modern judicial system. Speedy disposal of the case, without compromising on the quality of adjudication, is another facet of the emerging judicial system world over.
• 5. Keeping these broad principles in mind, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar, on his being elevated as a Judge of the Madras High Court on 10th December, 2005, adjudicated cases of varied nature in the field of original side suits, trademark, patent, design cases, arbitration matters, admiralty cases, company law petitions, tax petitions, tax appeals, writ petitions of general miscellaneous character contract, service, etc., civil revisions, civil miscellaneous appeals, etc. While deciding cases on the various branches of law, primary importance was given to cases which are more than five years old. Tax appeals - old and new were disposed of at the earliest, thus resolving long pending tax disputes and settling the law on the issue. In cases relating to exemption given to trust and breached for claiming tax benefits ruling were given piercing the veil of the trust.
• 6. On Environmental Law, several path-breaking decisions have been rendered. To name a few, the restoration of rain bearing Evergreen Shola Forest in the Western Ghats and Kodaikanal hill range, removing of Prosopis Juliflora, a species of plant which is major cause of soil and ecological damage, restoring neglected water bodies, removing of encroachments, aforestation of waste land and National Highways, etc.
• 7. The difficulties faced by the beneficiaries/claimants in the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal for early settlement of the compensation and for quick disposal of the claim(s) were addressed in numerous reported cases. In a case of Motor Accident Claim a decision having far reaching beneficial consequence to litigating claimants the judicial order enabled the claimants to receive their compensation directly through their bank accounts at their place of residence. This avoided manipulation and depravation of just compensation.
• 8. On the administrative side, the infrastructure requirements of the High Court and various District Courts were promptly and effectively executed to meet the needs of the Judiciary. The numerable steps that have been taken to address the need of the Judiciary are set out in detail separately. These initiatives have given a fillip to the institution. In discharge of his duties both as a Judge as well as an Administrator, the interest of the Institution was paramount, so that the legacy of the Institution is maintained and improved with the change of times.
• 9. Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar was born on 14.02.1959. He hails from Panapakkam Village, Vellore District (Formerly North Arcot District), Tamil Nadu. Justice R. Sudhakar had his early schooling in Don Bosco Matriculation School, Egmore, Chennai and completed his school education at St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Madurai. During his school days, he was an active member of the Boy's Scout movement and in sports. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Life Sciences from Loyola College, Chennai. He actively participated in sports, social and cultural activities both in School and in College. Justice R. Sudhakar was conferred a Degree in Law from Madras Law College.
• 10. Justice R. Sudhakar was enrolled as an Advocate in the year 1983 and started practice as an associate of the Legal Luminary and Senior Advocate Shri Habibullah Badsha, former Advocate General of Tamil Nadu and Public Prosecutor of Madras High Court. The pedigree of the law firm is worth mentioning. Shri Habibullah Badsha was associated with Shri Govind Swaminadhan - Crown Prosecutor and former Advocate General, Tamil Nadu, who in turn was groomed by legal luminary of the Criminal Bar, Barrister late Shri V. L. Ethiraj, the Founder of Ethiraj College for Women.
• 11. Justice R. Sudhakar practiced in all branches of law with particular emphasis on Customs, Central Excise and Sales Tax Law. Besides, Madras High Court, he has also practiced/appeared in cases before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka High Court and Kerala High Court. He regularly appeared in matters before the Supreme Court of India as well.
• 12. Justice R. Sudhakar's father, Late Shri Justice S.T. Ramalingam served as a Judge of the Madras High Court. Justice R. Sudhakar's maternal grandfather, late Shri S.P. Sri Ram served as a District Judge and retired as Chairman of the Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal. Justice R. Sudhakar hails from a family actively involved in freedom movement championed by the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi. His maternal great-grandfather late S. P. Ayyaswami Mudaliar, a well known Civil Engineer in the early twentieth century, took active part in the freedom movement. During the years 1939 and 1940 the family hosted several national leaders and freedom fighters like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at their palatial house ‘GANDHI PEAK’ on Bharathi Salai, Royapettah, Chennai, named in memory of the Father of our Nation.
• 13. Justice R. Sudhakar was elevated to the Bench as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Madras on 10.12.2005 and as a Permanent Judge on 20.04.2007. In his career as a Judge of the Madras High Court spreading over a decade he decided 26196 Main Cases and 32943 Misc. Cases. A number of judgments delivered by him are reported in various Law Journals published in different parts of the Country. On his transfer from the Madras High Court, Justice R. Sudhakar took the oath of the office of a Judge of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on the 18th day of April, 2016.
• 14. Justice R. Sudhakar is committed to social welfare causes and social reforms. The empowerment of Advocates and their upliftment to bring the creed to its tall stature as it was during the freedom struggle, is one of his ambitious projects.
• 15. He organized a two days' year long programme Redefining Legal Practice for young Advocates on the various facets of legal education under the auspices of the Tamil Nadu Judicial Academy. The Scheme benefitted young lawyers of all districts of Tamil Nadu who were struggling to set their foot in the noble profession.
• 16. Promoting the cause of underprivileged, protecting the rights of differently-abled people, senior citizens and their rights, is another dimension of judicial reach advanced as a member of higher Judiciary. Social health and welfare issues are other major priorities.
• 17. Besides constantly and consistently working on law and the legal system, has keen interest in development of Agri Horticulture, and improving safeguarding of natural resources. He is proactive in protection of Environment, renewing forest cover. Restoring Heritage is his passion with meticulous planning and execution.
• 18. He is fond of travelling all over the globe to imbibe different cultures. He takes part in sports and sports related activity and has impacted the growth of sports by judicial orders in Public Interest Litigation.
• 19. Music in any form of Classical Indian, Fusion, Western Classical, Jazz, Music of natives all over the world is his passion. He has taken Music and dance as the soul of his life.
• 20. The Judge also takes interest in promoting Art and Artists, cultural events as a measure of harmonious living.
• 21. As an alumnus of Loyola College, Madras, he shows sincere concern and partakes in its activities contributing to the growth of education.
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Hon'ble Smt. Justice Abhilasha Kumari, Chief Justice

• Hon'ble Smt. Justice Abhilasha Kumari
• Was born on 23/02/1956 at Delhi. 
• Did her schooling from Loreto Convent, Tara Hall, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. 
• Obtained the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English from Indraprastha College, Delhi University. 
• Did LLB from Himachal Pradesh University. 
• Was enrolled as an Advocate on 26.03.1984. 
• Remained Additional Central Government Standing Counsel from 1995 to 2002. 
• Remained the Legal Advisor-cum-Standing Counsel for the Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishva Vidyalaya, Himachal Pradesh University, Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation and Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board. 
• Remained Standing Counsel for Municipal Council, Dalhousie, Municipal Corporation, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education and Himachal Pradesh Technical Education Board.  
• Had practiced in all types of Civil, Writ, Criminal, Service, Consumer, Industrial, Insurance and Company matters in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and the Himachal Pradesh State Administrative Tribunal.  
• Held the post of Additional Advocate General for the State of Himachal Pradesh. 
• Was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on 02.12.2005.  
• Was transferred to the High Court of Gujarat and assumed charge as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Gujarat on 09.01.2006.  
• Took oath as a Permanent Judge of the High Court of Gujarat on 25.09.2006. 
• Has experience in handling cases pertaining to all branches of law, including matters pertaining to Constitutional and Administrative Law, Hindu Law, Civil, Criminal, Service, Company, Tax, Election, Arbitration, Land Acquisition matters and matters pertaining to the Motor Vehicles Act.  
• Has experience in handling cases pertaining to the Original Jurisdiction of the High Court and Admiralty matters.  
• Has had the opportunity of dealing with all types of cases, including complicated cases under various branches of law in the Gujarat High Court.  
• Was appointed as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur on 06.02.2018 and assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur on 09.02.2018.
• Date of retirement: 23.02.2018.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Ranjan Prasad, Chief Justice

• Born on 1st July, 1955.
• Schooling and graduation from Bihar. Graduate in Science. 
• Obtained LL.B. Degree from Patna Law College, Patna. 
• Enrolled as an Advocate in Bihar State Bar Council, Patna on 17th September, 1980. 
• Practised in Civil, Criminal and Writ matters at Patna High Court, Patna. 
• Joined Superior Judicial Service at the level of Additional District Judge on 6th May, 1991. 
• Promoted to the post of District & Sessions Judge in the year 2001.
• Posted as Registrar General, High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi on 9th June 2001.
• Appointed as a Judge of High Court of Jharkhand on 9th February, 2006.
• Took oath as a Judge of High Court of Jharkhand on 27th February, 2006.
• Appointed as a Judge of High Court of Manipur on transfer on 1st February, 2016.
• Took oath as a Judge of High Court of Manipur on 15th February, 2016.
• Took oath as Hon'ble the Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur on 22nd September, 2016.
• Retired on 30th June, 2017 as Hon'ble the Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra, Chief Justice

• Born on 10th June, 1954.
• Graduated in Law from M S Law College, Cuttack in 1977.
• Enrolled as an Advocate on January 25, 1978.
• Practised mainly on Civil, Criminal, Service and Labour Laws.
• Served as the retainer for South Eastern Railways, IPICOL, OSFC, Stock Exchange, Bhubaneswar, IMFA and others.
• Elevated as Judge of High Court of Orissa on September 16, 1999.
• Transferred to Allahabad High Court and took oath on October 17, 2012.
• Served as Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court from 19th September till 20th October, 2013.
• Took oath as Acting Chief Justice  of High Court of Manipur on 21st October, 2013.
• Took oath as Hon'ble the chief Justice of High Court of Manipur on 10^th July, 2014.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chief Justice

• Hon'ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre Born on August 28, 1954.Enrolled as Advocate on January 21, 1978. Practised on Civil, Constitutional and Labour sides in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur.Appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 25th October, 1999 and Permanent Judge on October 24, 2001. Transferred to Rajasthan High Court and assumed charge at Principal Seat Jodhpur on 11th February, 2010. Transferred to Chhattisgarh High Court and assumed charge on 23rd April, 2012.He has transferred to the High Court of Manipur As Chief Justice and assumed the charge of the office of the Hon’ble the Chief Justice w.e.f. 23rd March, 2013.
• Consequent upon his Lordship's transfer as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, Guwahati, His Lordship relinquished charge of the office of the Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur from 10.30 AM of 19.10.2013.