THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Jan 25: Justice Prasanna B Varale on Thursday took the oath as a Supreme Court judge.
He was administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud.
Justice Varale who was serving as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court was recommended for elevation by the Supreme Court Collegium last week.
The Indian President issued a notification to that effect on January 24.
The Centre approved Justice Varale’s name for the judgeship on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court has reached its full capacity of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice of India, following the recent swearing-in ceremony.
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Third Dalit SC judge currently
After Justice BR Gavai and Justice CT Ravikumar, Justice Varale will be the third Dalit judge currently serving on the Supreme Court.
Of all the Chief Justices of High Courts in the nation, he was the only one who belonged to a Scheduled Caste and the most senior High Court judge who was also a member of that caste.
He spent more than 23 years practising law in district and session courts as well as on constitutional cases at the High Court Bench in Aurangabad before being elevated to the rank of judge on the Bombay High Court in 2008.