Raipur, Sep 07: Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra was sworn in as the 16th Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday, filling the top judicial post on a permanent basis. Governor Ramen Deka administered the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, and Chief Secretary Vikash Sheel.

Justice Mohapatra succeeds Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar Agrawal. Recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on 1 September 2026, his appointment marks a key milestone in a legal career spanning nearly four decades.

Born on 18 April 1965, Justice Mohapatra holds a BA and an LLB degree. He enrolled as an advocate with the Orissa State Bar Council on 7 February 1988, practicing across civil, criminal, service, and constitutional domains over 26 years.

During his legal practice, he served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Odisha government and represented bodies like the Odisha Public Service Commission, Bank of Baroda, and Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited. He was elevated as a judge of the Orissa High Court on 17 April 2015, where he authored several judgments on arbitration and constitutional law.