THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, July 23: Jharkhand High Court welcomed its new Chief Justice on Wednesday as Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan took the oath of office.
The ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan, where Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Justice Chauhan.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, judges of the High Court, Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan, senior advocates, officials of the State Bar Council, members of the Advocates’ Association, Additional Advocate Generals, and several High Court lawyers.
Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan previously served as a senior judge at the Himachal Pradesh High Court before his appointment as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
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His appointment follows the tenure of Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao, which was marred by strained relations with the Advocates Association and reports of coordination challenges within the Bench. He has been transferred to the Tripura High Court.
Justice Chauhan arrives with a reputation for judicial discipline, technological innovation, and constructive engagement with stakeholders—qualities that are widely expected to restore institutional harmony and reinforce public trust in the state’s highest court.
With decades of service on the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Chauhan is known for blending sharp legal reasoning with a reformist approach. His rulings have addressed gaps in policy enforcement, emphasised administrative accountability, and protected constitutional rights with clarity and conviction.
Academic and Legal Foundations
Born on January 9 1964, he is a graduate with Honours from DAV College, Chandigarh. Justice Chauhan earned his LL.B from Panjab University. Enrolled as an advocate in 1989, he practised under Lala Chhabil Das, mastering diverse areas of law and serving as Standing Counsel and Legal Advisor to government bodies such as the State Electricity Board and Civil Supplies Corporation.
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Judicial Elevation and Intellectual Rigour
Appointed Additional Judge on 23 February 2014 and confirmed on 30 November 2014, he has delivered over 70,000 judgments. His rulings repeatedly emphasise accountability and the rule of law:
- Industrial Policy Enforcement (May 2025): As part of a bench with Justice Kukreja, he struck down key clauses of the Himachal Industrial Investment Policy for violating the doctrine of promissory estoppel—mandating the government to honour a 15% electricity rebate promised to industry.
- Sanctity of Statutory Powers (Nov 2022): In a case on town planning, he held that statutory authorities must act strictly within legal boundaries, condemning bureaucratic inaction in seismic-prone areas.
- Commercial Remedy Discipline (May 2023): Clarified that borrowers cannot bypass statutory remedies under SARFAESI Act by filing writs, reinforcing procedural discipline in financial disputes.
Championing Judicial Oversight and Procedural Fairness
In June 2024, he reprimanded a lower court judge for ordering coercive measures without notice, underlining the necessity of due process and the protection of individual liberty.
Environmental and Privacy Jurisprudence
- Shimla ‘Concrete Jungle’ PIL (May 2015): Co-authored a landmark suo motu judgment ordering against unsafe constructions in the hill capital after the Nepal earthquake, prioritising seismic safety and environmental integrity.
- Right to Be Forgotten: Recognised privacy rights in early rulings, affirming that acquitted individuals are entitled to reputational privacy in digital records.
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Visionary Judicial Leadership
As Chair of the Juvenile Justice Committee (2014–2023), Justice Chauhan reformed child welfare systems, supported mental health and elder care institutions, and expanded legal aid. His digital reforms—e-filing, case updates via SMS/email, and e-Gate passes—modernised the Himachal judiciary.
A New Era for Jharkhand
With his strong legal clarity, unwavering insistence on procedural integrity, and substantive jurisprudence in environmental, commercial, and social justice, Chief Justice Chauhan is poised to advance the direction of the Jharkhand High Court. All eyes will be on how his pragmatic yet principled approach transforms the judicial landscape ahead.
