Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad has been designated as the acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, following the departure of the current Chief Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, who concluded his term after a brief period of nearly two weeks.

Justice Sarangi was appointed as Chief Justice on July 3 and will vacate the office Yesterday. Justice Prasad will assume the role of acting Chief Justice starting today.

The Law Ministry's notification dated July 18, 2024, stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Judge of the Jharkhand High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from 20.07.2024 consequent upon retirement of Shri Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Chief Justice, Jharkhand High Court on 19.07.2024.”

Justice Prasad, the senior-most Judge of the Jharkhand High Court, was initially appointed as an Additional Judge on September 26, 2014. He was later transferred to the Orissa High Court on March 12, 2015.

During his tenure at the Orissa High Court, Justice Prasad was nominated to various committees, including the Judicial Academy and Training, Computer Committee, e-Committee, Juvenile Justice Committee, Building Committee (High Court and Lower Court), Transfer Committee, Vehicle Committee, Research Assistant Appointment Committee, Family Court Counsellor Appointment Committee, and Class-IV Appointment Committee. He also served as Chairman of the High Power Committee at Utkal University (Law faculty).

Upon his repatriation from the Orissa High Court, Justice Prasad took the oath as a Judge of the Jharkhand High Court on November 22, 2018.