Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge Sworn in as Calcutta High Court Chief Justice

Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, taking charge of one of the country’s oldest High Courts. West Bengal Governor R N Ravi administered the oath of office to Justice Ghuge at a ceremony held at the court’s principal seat in Kolkata. The appointment formally brings him to the helm of the Calcutta High Court after his tenure at the Bombay High Court.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose. Justice Ghuge assumed the office following the Centre’s notification of his appointment as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. The ceremony marked the beginning of his tenure at a time when the court is dealing with a substantial volume of pending cases and administrative challenges.

Justice Ghuge previously served as a judge of the Bombay High Court and was appointed its Acting Chief Justice in June 2026. He was elevated to the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013, after practising law in Bombay High Court and labour and industrial courts. During his legal career, he represented workers, trade unions and industrial establishments before moving to the High Court bench.

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Born in Kolhapur, Justice Ghuge completed his legal education at Shahaji Law College in Kolhapur and M.P. Law College in Aurangabad in 1990. Before his elevation to the bench, he handled a wide range of labour and industrial matters and appeared in cases involving both employees and large industrial organisations. His judicial career at the Bombay High Court included work involving labour, service, public law and other significant matters.

His elevation to the Calcutta High Court was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium in August, when he was serving as Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. The recommendation was part of a wider exercise to appoint permanent Chief Justices to several High Courts that had been functioning under acting heads. The Union government subsequently notified the appointment, clearing the way for Justice Ghuge to take charge in Kolkata.

Justice Ghuge’s appointment also marks a transition for the Bombay High Court, where he had spent more than 13 years as a judge. Several matters handled by his benches, including important public and constitutional issues, will now continue before newly constituted benches. As Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, he will oversee the court’s judicial and administrative functioning while leading its bench in dealing with cases pending before it.

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