Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra was the 45th Chief Justice of India having a tenure of 14 months between 28 August 2017 – 2nd October 2018. 

Originating from Odisha, Justice Dipak Misra commenced his legal career in 1977, becoming an Advocate. For nearly two decades, he specialized in Constitutional, Civil, Criminal, Revenue, Service, and Sales Tax cases at the Orissa High Court and the Service Tribunal. In 1996, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court and later transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 1997, achieving permanent Judge status on December 19th, 1997. His judicial journey continued as he ascended to the position of Chief Justice of the Patna High Court in 2009, followed by Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in 2010. In 2011, he reached the pinnacle of his career with an appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Justice Dipak Misra’s legacy is marked by his pivotal role in several landmark judgments. Notably, he led a Delhi High Court bench that mandated the prompt uploading of FIRs on police websites to facilitate access to justice for accused individuals. In a case involving reservations in promotions, he emphasized the need for adequate data and evidence to justify such policies, striking down the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision for lacking sufficient support. His most significant contribution came when he led a bench confirming the death sentences of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya rape case, which prompted the strengthening of anti-rape laws in India.

His career is also distinguished by his unwavering commitment to justice, evident in his efforts to uphold the constitutionality of criminal defamation and his involvement in the conviction and sentencing of then Calcutta High Court judge C. S. Karnan for contempt of court. CJI Dipak Misra’s influence on Indian jurisprudence remains profound and enduring.