Justice Manikumar sworn in as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court

Source: thehindu.com

Justice S. Manikumar was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court at a brief ceremony here at the Raj Bhavan on Friday.

He succeeds Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who was elevated to the Supreme Court. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan administered the oath of office to the new Chief Justice. Mr. Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan greeted the new Chief Justice with bouquets on completion of the ceremony.

Justice Manikumar’s father Swamidurai, 87, a former judge of the Madras High Court; Justice Manikumar’s wife Beula Rajakumari and children Sahitya and Sathyadev were present.

Enrolling as an advocate on November 23, 1983, S. Manikumar, now 58, practised for nearly 22 years in the Madras High Court, the Tamil Nadu State and Central Administrative Tribunals on constitutional and service matters.

He has held the posts of Senior Central Government Standing Counsel for Government of India and Assistant Solicitor General of India. Justice Manikumar was appointed Additional Judge at the Madras High Court on July 31, 2006, and as permanent Judge on November 9, 2009.

Former Governor P. Sathasivam, ministers A.K. Balan, M. M. Mani, Thomas Isaac and Ramachandran Kadannappalli, Chief Secretary Tom Jose and judges of the Kerala and Madras High Courts were present at the swearing-in ceremony.