R. Banumathi Appointed Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court

Justice R. Banumathi, Judge of the Madras High Court was on 12 November 2013 appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. She was appointed by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.

The Supreme Court’s collegium has cleared her elevation as Chief Justice in August 2013 and the Union government has taken three months to process and notify the appointment.

Justice R. Banumathi (58) entered the Tamil Nadu Higher Judicial Service in 1988 as a direct recruit district judge. She worked as District and Sessions Judge in Coimbatore and Vellore, and Principal District and Sessions Judge in Pudukottai, Madras, Tirunelveli and Salem. She also worked as Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai.  She was made a judge of the Madras High Court on 3 April 2003.

According to clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India every Chief Justice of the High Court shall be appointed by the President of India after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the concerned State. In the case of appointment of a Judge of the High court, the President will also consult the concerned Chief Justice High Court.

The Jharkhand High Court came into existence after reorganiszation of state of Bihar in existing state of Bihar and Jharkhand on 15 November 2000.