Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Dipankar Datta sworn in as Supreme Court judge

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Monday (December 12) administered the oath of office to Mumbai High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta as a judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Dipankar Dutta, son of former Calcutta High Court judge late Salil Kumar Dutta and relative of former Supreme Court judge Amitava Roy, took oath at 10.36 am.

With the swearing-in of Justice Dipankar Dutta, the total strength of judges in the apex court has increased to 28. The total sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges including the Chief Justice is 34.

Justice Dipankar Dutta’s tenure will be till 8 February 2030

The Department of Justice of the Union Law Ministry had issued a notification on Sunday (December 11) announcing his appointment. Justice Dutta was born on February 9, 1965. He turns 57 this year and his tenure in the Supreme Court will last till February 8, 2030. The retirement age in the Supreme Court is 65 years.

President approves and issues warrant of appointment

Dutta’s name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the then Chief Justice Justice UU Lalit (now retired), in its meeting held on September 26. About two and a half months later, the government stamped its consent and sent it to the President for final approval. The President had issued the warrant of appointment while giving his approval. Currently, only 27 judges are working in the Supreme Court against the total fixed strength of 34 judges.

Justice Dutta was promoted on June 22, 2006

Justice Datta was elevated as a permanent judge of the Calcutta High Court on June 22, 2006. After this, on 28 April 2020, he was made the Chief Justice of the Mumbai High Court. According to information available on the Calcutta High Court website, he obtained a law degree in 1989 from Calcutta University. After this, he was registered as an advocate on November 16, 1989.