PRESIDENT Pranab Mukherjee has appointed Justice Indira Banerjee, Judge of the Delhi High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office. Born in September 1957, Justice Banerjee is at present number two in the Delhi High Court, and she brings with her around 32 years of experience, including more than 15 years as a judge.

Justice Indira Banerjee from Bengal be the second woman after Justice Kanta Kumari Bhatnagar from June to November 1992 to head the hallowed court. Justice Banerjee enrolled as an advocate in 1985 and practised both in the original and appellate sides of the Calcutta High Court. She was appointed permanent judge of the Calcutta High Court on February 5, 2002, and was transferred to the Delhi High Court on August 8, 2016.

She was educated at Kolkata’s Loreto House and Presidency College and is an alumnus of the Calcutta University College of Law. She enrolled herself as an advocate on July 5, 1985 and practised both on the Original and Appellate Sides of Calcutta High Court in all branches of law, except criminal. She was appointed permanent judge of the Calcutta High Court on February 5, 2002 and transferred to Delhi High Court on August 8, 2016.The post fell vacant in the second week of February this year, when the then Chief Justice SK Kaul was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court. Though there was a proposal to elevate Justice HG Ramesh, the senior most judge in Karnataka High Court to the post of CJ of Madras High Court, it was reported that he had declined the offer.The no. 2 senior most judge -- Huluvadi G Ramesh -- became the Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and he assumed office on February 20.The new CJ is likely to assume office on Monday (April 3).