Justice M.S. Sonak Recommended As Chief Justice Of Jharkhand High Court By Supreme Court Collegium

Justice M.S. Sonak recommended as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court by Supreme Court Collegium

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice M.S. Sonak of the Bombay High Court as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. The recommendation was made during the Collegium meeting held on December 18, 2025, which proposed the elevation of five High Court judges as Chief Justices across different High Courts in India. The Collegium was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.

His appointment will take effect following the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan on January 8, 2026.

Justice M.S. Sonak was born on November 28, 1964, and completed his school education at Don Bosco High School, Panaji, Goa. He earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from Dhempe College of Arts & Science, Panaji, and obtained his LL.B. with First Class honors from M.S. College of Law, Panaji, affiliated with Bombay University. Additionally, he holds a Portuguese Language Diploma from the Xavier Centre of Historical Research. He enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa in October 1988.

Before his elevation to the bench, Justice Sonak practiced for over 24 years at the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court, specializing in civil, constitutional, environmental, labor, and tax laws. He also served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government, Special Counsel for the State Government, and Statutory Corporations.

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013, and has served as a Permanent Judge since 2015.

In a notable personal milestone, Justice Sonak recently became the first person in Goa to register a 'living will' or advance directive. This document allows individuals with deteriorating or terminal health conditions to express their wishes regarding life support in advance. The registration took place publicly at an event organized by the Goa branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to release a booklet on Advanced Medical Directives, operationalized by the State of Goa.

The Collegium’s recommendation recognizes Justice Sonak’s extensive legal and judicial experience, his contributions to civil and constitutional jurisprudence, and his commitment to progressive legal principles, as he prepares to assume leadership of the Jharkhand High Court.

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