Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak sworn in as Gujarat HC judge after Orissa HC transfer
Synopsis
Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak, whose parent High Court is the Gauhati High Court, formally joined the Gujarat High Court on 14 September 2026 after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer from the Orissa High Court at its 6 August meeting — part of a simultaneous two-judge reshuffle that also sent Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Key Takeaways
Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak took oath as a Gujarat High Court judge on 14 September 2026 in Ahmedabad .
The oath was administered by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal of the Gujarat High Court.
The transfer was ordered by President Droupadi Murmu on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium , which met on 6 August 2026 .
Justice Pathak's parent High Court is the Gauhati High Court ; he was enrolled as an advocate on 12 September 1990 .
His initial appointment as a judge was on 22 May 2013 .
Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra was simultaneously recommended for transfer from the Orissa High Court to the Chhattisgarh High Court .
Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak was administered the oath of office as a judge of the Gujarat High Court on Monday, 14 September 2026, in a ceremony held at the court premises in Ahmedabad. Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal officiated the oath-taking, marking Justice Pathak's formal assumption of judicial charge in Gujarat following his transfer from the Orissa High Court.
Background of the Transfer
The transfer was executed pursuant to an order issued by President Droupadi Murmu, acting on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. The Collegium, at its meeting on 6 August 2026, recommended the simultaneous transfer of two judges from the Orissa High Court. Justice Pathak was recommended for Gujarat, while Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra was recommended for transfer to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Justice Pathak's parent High Court is the Gauhati High Court, reflecting his professional roots in the northeastern legal ecosystem. He was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh on 12 September 1990, building a practice spanning multiple northeastern jurisdictions before his elevation to the Bench.
Career and Appointment History
Justice Pathak was initially appointed as a judge in 2013, with the Gujarat High Court's records noting his date of initial appointment as 22 May 2013. His elevation came after over two decades at the Bar, during which he practised across several northeastern states.
His transfer to Gujarat is part of a broader, ongoing movement of judges between High Courts — a routine but significant exercise through which the Supreme Court Collegium seeks to balance judicial strength across the country's various High Courts.
The Oath-Taking Ceremony
The ceremony at the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad was attended by sitting judges of the court, senior members of the legal profession, and court officials. Among those present was Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, along with members of the Bench and Bar who witnessed Justice Pathak formally take charge of his new judicial responsibilities.
Significance for Gujarat HC
The induction of Justice Pathak adds to the judicial strength of the Gujarat High Court, which, like several High Courts across India, has periodically grappled with vacancies relative to its sanctioned strength. Inter-High Court transfers are one of the primary mechanisms through which the Collegium redistributes judicial resources. With Justice Pathak now formally on the Bench, the court is expected to benefit from his decades of legal experience across northeastern and eastern jurisdictions.
Point of View
But they reflect the Collegium's ongoing — and often opaque — effort to balance judicial strength across 25 High Courts. The simultaneous transfer of two Orissa High Court judges to Gujarat and Chhattisgarh raises the question of whether Orissa is losing experienced hands at a time when its own docket pressures are significant. More broadly, the pace of Collegium-driven transfers has accelerated in 2026, yet vacancy levels across High Courts remain stubbornly high — suggesting transfers alone cannot substitute for fresh elevations.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak transferred to the Gujarat High Court?
Justice Pathak was transferred from the Orissa High Court to the Gujarat High Court on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, which approved the move at its meeting on 6 August 2026. The transfer was formalised through an order issued by President Droupadi Murmu and is part of the Collegium's routine exercise of redistributing judicial resources across High Courts.
Who administered the oath to Justice Pathak at the Gujarat High Court?
Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal of the Gujarat High Court administered the oath of office to Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak at the ceremony held in Ahmedabad on 14 September 2026.
What is Justice Pathak's professional background?
Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh on 12 September 1990. His parent High Court is the Gauhati High Court, and he was initially appointed as a judge on 22 May 2013.
Were other judges transferred alongside Justice Pathak?
Yes. The Supreme Court Collegium's 6 August 2026 meeting recommended the transfer of two Orissa High Court judges — Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak to the Gujarat High Court and Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
What is the Supreme Court Collegium's role in High Court judge transfers?
The Supreme Court Collegium, comprising the Chief Justice of India and senior judges, recommends the appointment, elevation, and transfer of High Court judges. Its recommendations are then acted upon by the President of India, whose order formalises the transfer.
