IMPHAL, May 22: Justice Kempaiah Somashekar officially took oath as the 9th Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court on Thursday during a ceremonial event held at the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. The oath was administered by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla in the presence of top dignitaries from the judiciary, civil, and security establishments.
Justice Somashekar, formerly a judge at the Karnataka High Court, was appointed to the position by the President of India on May 20, 2025, following a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium. His appointment comes in the wake of the retirement of Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar, who demitted office on May 21.
In his address following the swearing-in, Chief Justice Somashekar expressed optimism about his new role and assured that he would focus on improving judicial efficiency in the state. The Manipur High Court currently faces a backlog of over 3,335 pending cases. The Chief Justice emphasized his commitment to resolving these cases swiftly and ensuring timely justice.
The ceremony was attended by judges of the Manipur High Court, the Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, Director General of Police, senior military officials, and representatives from Bar Associations.
