Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel takes oath as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on Friday.nnLt Governor Anil Baijal administered the oath of office to Justice Patel at a function held at Raj Niwas here.nnEarlier, Justice Patel was posted at the Jharkhand High Court.nnThe Supreme Court Collegium had recommended his name for the appointment as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.nnChief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and cabinet colleagues, senior members of the judiciary, officers of the Delhi government and other officials were present at the ceremony.nnWith an approved strength of 60, the Delhi High Court has a shortage of around 24 judges.nnHe was born on 13th March, 1960. Passed S.S.C. with 68% marks in the year 1975, B.Sc. with 68% from M.G..Science College, Ahmedabad in the year 1979 and M.Sc. with Organic Chemistry from University School of Science in the year 1981. He did his LL.B. degree in the year 1984 with first class and LL.M. with 1st Rank in the First class in the year 1986 from L.A. Shah Law College, Ahmedabad.nnHe got two gold medals, one of Principal M.S. Pandit Gold Medal and another from Bombay Hindu Law Research and Reform Association. He was a National Scholar in the year 1983-84 and 1984-85.He was Chess Champion of his college from the year 1975 to 1981.nnHe enrolled as an Advocate on 28th July, 1984 and practiced at the High Court of Gujarat. He practiced in Civil, Criminal and Constitutional matters as well as Excise and Custom matters on behalf of Union of India at the High Court of Gujarat. He was appointed as a Special Counsel of the State of Gujarat in other High Courts.nnHe was a panel advocate of various Institutions/Authorities like Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC), Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority(AUDA), Ahmedabad District Panchayat, Provident Fund Commissioner, B.S.N.L., AICTE, New Delhi etc. in the High Court of Gujarat. He was also a counsel on behalf of State of Maharashtra for the writ petitions at the High Court of Gujarat.nnHe served as part-time lecturer in Sir L.A.Shah Law College, Ahmedabad for 9 years, both at LL.B. and LL.M.Level.nnHe was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the High Court of Gujarat in the year 1991.He was appointed as in-Charge Government Pleader of the State of Gujarat of India in May-June,1999.nnHe was appointed as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel by Union of India, in the year 1999 and as Senior Central Government Standing Counsel by Central Government for High Court of Gujarat on 5th July, 2001.nnHe was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Gujarat on 7th March,2004 and took oath as permanent Judge of High Court of Gujarat on 25th January,2006nnOn transfer, he took oath as Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand, Ranchi. on 3rd Febuary,2009.nnHis Lordship has been appointed as Executive Chairman of Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority from August, 2012.nnAppointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand from 04th August 2013 to 15th November 2013.nnAppointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand from 13th of August 2014 to 31st of October 2014.