Healthy Judiciary Built Not Just On Rules But Also Mutual Respect Between Bench And The Bar: Jharkhand HC CJ Tarlok Singh Chauhan Sworn-In

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan was sworn in as Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday (July 23). 

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office during a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

Justice Chauhan was serving as the second senior-most judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court before his elevation as Jharkhand High Court's Chief Justice. His name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on May 26 and cleared by the Union on July 14.

Born on January 9, 1964, in Rohru, Himachal Pradesh, Justice Chauhan completed his schooling from Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and later graduated with honours from DAV College, Chandigarh. He graduated with Honours from DAV College, Chandigarh and thereafter obtained a degree in Law from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He then enrolled in 1989 as an advocate with the Himachal Pradesh Bar Council.

In February 2014, he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and was made a permanent judge later that year. During his time on the bench, he authored several significant rulings, among them, a judgment where he expanded the scope of the “right to be forgotten” by observing that emphasized that the right to privacy, encompassing the right to be forgotten and the right to be left alone, is an inherent aspect of personal liberty.

Prior to elevation, Justice Chauhan was the Standing Counsel-cum- Legal Advisor to H.P. State Electricity Board Ltd. and before that he was the Standing Counsel-cum- Legal Advisor to the H.P. State Civil Supplies Corporation. He remained a member of various Lok Adalats, and was also appointed Amicus-Curiae by the High Court in many important cases relating to violation of Environmental Laws by the Hydel Projects, Ropeways etc. ban on plastic and tobacco products, implementation of Solid Waste Management Projects and framing of road construction policy in Himachal Pradesh.

Apart from his work on the bench, Justice Chauhan was deeply engaged with technology and innovation, and worked on transforming work in e-courts and digital justice not only to modernize courtrooms but also democratized justice. He led the e-courts committee, introducing measures like e-filing and online access to case records to make the system more efficient and accessible. As chair of the Juvenile Justice Committee, Justice Chauhan has been a leading voice in reforming institutional care for children, ensuring better monitoring of the children's homes and advocating the rights and dignity of every child in the justice system.

Speaking at the welcome ceremony in Ranchi, senior judges and members of the bar described Justice Chauhan as a jurist known for his integrity, progressive thinking, and administrative reforms. In his first address as the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, he emphasized that the judiciary is “not just a system but a family”.

He said, “To me the judiciary is not just an institution. It is a family. Like any family it is built on relationships, shared values and a collective commitment to a larger purpose. the judges, lawyers, registry staff, clerical personnel and sport workers. Each member contributes to the life and soul of judicial machinery. Their roles may differ, but their unity and purpose is absolute. In the courtroom, the dignity of proceedings depends not only on the judges who preside but equally on the conduct of educates and the efficiency of the supporting staff in the chambers and corridors. The unseen labor of employees ensures that every file reaches the bench on time, that orders are executed, and the day-to-day working of the court flows seamlessly.”

He further said, “What binds this family is not just institutional protocol but trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to justice. As the bar president put it, judges rely on silent discipline of court officers, employees drawing and the employees in turn draw inspiration from the integrity of the bench. It is this interdependence that transforms the judiciary into a living breathing community. One that supports, corrects and elevates each other. Like in any family, there are challenges, pressures of work, emotional burdens, differences of opinion. But it is precisely during such time that the familial spirit reveals its strength.”

“When an officer is transferred, promoted or retires, the emotion is palpable. When a colleague faces a personal crisis, others rally around him. They are not signs of a distant institution but of a close-knit family. A healthy judiciary is not built on rules alone but on relationships of respect, empathy and dignity between the bar and bench, the high court and the district judiciary and the courts at all levels with its employees,” he added.

Justice Chauhan said his focus would be on timely disposal of cases, strengthening the use of technology in courts, and ensuring justice reaches marginalized communities.