Justice Rabindravijay Vitthalrao Ghuge on Wednesday took oath as the new Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, ending the court’s wait of several months for a permanent Chief Justice.
West Bengal Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath to Justice Ghuge at 10 am in Courtroom No. 1 of the Calcutta High Court. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and Assembly Speaker Rathindra Basu were among those present at the ceremony.
Justice Ghuge succeeds the court’s acting Chief Justice, Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty, who had been holding the position on an interim basis.
The Centre issued the notification appointing Ghuge as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on Saturday, nearly a month after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his elevation. Before his transfer, Ghuge had been serving as the acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
From labour litigation to the Bench
Justice Ghuge completed his legal education from MP Law College in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, in 1990 and began practising at the Bombay High Court the same year.
During his early years as a lawyer, he represented several labour unions and workers, appearing in around 2,000 cases relating to labour and industrial disputes. He also represented nearly 250 corporate and multinational companies during his legal career.
Alongside his legal practice, Ghuge served as a visiting professor at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. His father, V. B. Ghuge, had earlier served as the university’s Vice-Chancellor.
He also held several key positions in the Bar Association of Industrial Lawyers, Aurangabad, including that of secretary and president.
Justice Ghuge was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2013. More than a decade later, in June 2026, he was entrusted with the responsibility of acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
His appointment to the Calcutta High Court now marks another significant phase in his judicial career.
With Justice Ghuge taking charge, the Calcutta High Court once again has a permanent Chief Justice, bringing an end to the period of interim leadership.
