Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: The President of India has appointed Justice Bibhu Prasad Routray, a sitting judge of the Orissa High Court, to perform the duties of the Chief Justice of the High Court with effect from November 16, 2026. The appointment comes ahead of the scheduled retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Harish Tandon, on November 15.
According to an official notification issued on Friday by the Appointments Division of the Department of Justice under the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, Justice Routray has been assigned the responsibilities of the Chief Justice in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 223 of the Constitution of India.
Justice Routray will take charge of the office following Justice Tandon’s retirement and will discharge the functions and responsibilities of the Chief Justice from November 16. The arrangement is intended to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the Orissa High Court and maintain continuity in its administrative and judicial affairs.
Under Article 223 of the Constitution, the President is empowered to appoint a judge of a High Court to perform the duties of the Chief Justice when the office becomes vacant or when the incumbent Chief Justice is unable to perform the functions of the office.
The appointment will ensure that the Orissa High Court continues to function under the leadership of an appointed judge after Justice Tandon demits office. Justice Routray’s new responsibility will include overseeing the administrative functioning of the High Court and performing the duties attached to the office of the Chief Justice.
The appointment will take effect from November 16, a day after Justice Tandon’s retirement.
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