Thiruvananthapuram,10 Jan (H.S.):Justice Soumen Sen on Saturday formally assumed office as the 40th Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, marking a significant moment in the judicial history of the State. The oath of office was administered by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at a ceremonial function held at Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday morning.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Speaker A N Shamseer, Law Minister P Rajeev, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar, along with several senior judges of the Kerala High Court and other dignitaries. According to a release from the Lok Bhavan, the presence of leaders from across the political and administrative spectrum underlined the importance of the occasion.

Justice Sen’s appointment follows a notification issued by the Union Government on January 1, transferring him to the Kerala High Court. Prior to this, he was serving as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, a position he assumed in October last year. His transfer brings to Kerala a jurist with extensive experience across constitutional, civil, and criminal jurisprudence.

He succeeds Justice Nitin Jamdar, who demitted office as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court on January 9. With Justice Sen’s swearing-in, the Kerala High Court has now had 40 Chief Justices since its inception, reflecting the long institutional legacy of the court.

A Full Court Sitting has been scheduled to be held in the Chief Justice’s Court at the Kerala High Court on Monday, January 12. The sitting will formally welcome Justice Sen, with members of the Bench and Bar expected to attend the occasion.

Born on July 27, 1965, in Kolkata, Justice Soumen Sen completed his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Calcutta in 1990, securing the first rank in his batch. He enrolled as an advocate in January 1991 and practised at the Calcutta High Court for more than two decades, earning recognition for his legal acumen and court craft.

Justice Sen was elevated as a judge on April 13, 2011. Over the years, he has held important judicial and administrative responsibilities, culminating in his elevation as Chief Justice. His tenure in Kerala is expected to focus on judicial efficiency, timely disposal of cases, and strengthening public confidence in the justice delivery system.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman