Justice Sonia Gokani takes oath as first female Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court

Justice Sonia Giridhar Gokani, the senior-most judge of the Gujarat High Court, on Thursday was sworn-in as first female Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.

However, the first woman judge to helm affairs at the Gujarat High Court in 63 years of its existence would have a short tenure of nine days as she is due to retire on February 25.

The Central government had notified the elevation of Justice Gokani as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court on February 12.

As per a notification posted on the website of the Ministry of Law and Justice, ‘With respect to the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President of India is pleased to appoint Ms Justice Sonia Giridhar Gokani, the Judge of the Gujarat High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.’

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended her appointment as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court on February 9.

Justice Gokani was drawn from the judicial service. She had joined the judiciary directly in the cadre of district judges on July 10, 1995.

She was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High Court on February 17, 2011 and appointed as permanent Judge of the same High Court on January 28, 2013.