Supreme Court Justice Uday Umesh Lalit has been appointed as the 49th Chief Justice of India. Justice Lalit was part of many historic judgments including triple talak.
One of his landmark judgements is the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act’s section 7 has been interpreted to include touching a child’s private parts or any act involving physical contact with “sexual intent” as “sexual assault,” with sexual intent being the key component rather than skin-to-skin contact.
Justice Lalit was appointed judge of the Supreme Court on 13 August, 2014.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 27 August, 2022,” a Law Ministry notification said.
Justice UU Lalit is the second CJI to be directly raised to the apex court bench from the Bar. The first lawyer to be promoted directly to the Supreme Court bench was Justice SM Sikri, who was appointed the 13th Chief Justice of India in January 1971.
The Chief Justice of India, Justice Lalit, a native of Maharashtra, will hold the position for less than three months. On November 8, Justice Lalit will retire.
Justice Kamal Narain Singh served as CJI for the shortest period of time—17 days—in 1991.
