Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar was sworn in as 21st Chief Justice of H.P. High Court here today. Smt Urmila Singh, Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Justice in a simple but impressive ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here today. Sh Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister and Smt Pratibha Singh, his wife and former MP were also present on the occasion.Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar hails from Pune in Maharashtra. He was appointed Additional Judge of Bombay High Court in March 2000 and confirmed as Permanent Judge in April 2002. He has been in legal profession for the last 31 years. He did his degree in Commerce from Mulund College of Commerce, Mumbai University and degree in law from KC Law College, Mumbai University. He enrolled as an Advocate in the year 1982 and handled Civil, Criminal and Constitutional matters before the Subordinate Courts, Tribunals and High Court of Judicature at Bombay on the Appellate Side as well as the Original Side. Then he started practice exclusively in the Supreme Court of India from the year 1984.
Shri S. Roy, Chief Secretary conducted the proceedings of the ceremony .
Shri B.B.L Butail, Speaker H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Smt. Vidya Stokes, Shri Kaul Singh Thakur, Shri G.S. Bali, Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Shri Sudhir Sharma, Shri Prakash Chaudhary, Shri Dhani Ram Shandil and Shri Anil Sharma, Cabinet Ministers, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Leader of Opposition, Shri Jagat Singh Negi, Deputy Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries, MLAs, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, Shri Sanjay Chauhan, Mayor, Shri Tikendar Panwar, Deputy Mayor, Former MLAs, Former Ministers, Judges of H.P. High Court, Sh L.S. Panta, Lokayukta, Shri Shrawan Dogra, Advocate General, Himachal Pradesh High Court, Shri Bhim Sen, State Information Commissioner, Maj. General (Retd ) Shri C.M. Sharma, Chairman H.P. Public Service Commission, Sh A.D.N Bajpayee, Vice Chancellor HPU, Shri T.G. Negi, Advisor to Chief Minister, Shri Subhash Ahluwalia, Principal Private Secretary to Chief Minister, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Head of Departments, Legal Luminaries, Senior officers of State Government were also present on the occasion among others.
BIO-DATA OF CHIEF JUSTICE AJAY MANIKRAO KHANWILKAR
Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar took over as 21st Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court here today. Before taking over as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh, he was Judge of the Bombay High Court.Justice Khanwilkar hails from Pune in Maharashtra. Born on 30 July, 1957, he was appointed Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in March 2000 and confirmed as permanent Judge in April 2002. He has been in legal profession for the last 31 years. He did his degree in Commerce from Mulund College of Commerce, Mumbai University and degree in law from KC Law College, Mumbai University.Justice Khanwilkar was enrolled as Advocate in the year 1982 and handled Civil, Criminal and Constitutional matters before the Subordinate Courts, Tribunals and High Court of Judicature at Bombay on the Appellate Side as well as the Original Side. He started his practice exclusively in the Supreme Court of India from the year 1984.He was appointed as Standing Counsel for the State of Maharashtra for Supreme Court matters in October 1985 and also worked as Additional Advocate for the State Government of Maharashtra till December 1989. He was appointed Panel Counsel for Union of India in January 1990 and represented Union of India in several matters of national importance. Even in private practice, he handled matters of great significance before the Supreme Court to represent persons in high public offices as also various statutory Authorities, Corporations and institutions.In August 1994, he was appointed Amicus Curiae by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India to assist on environmental issues in the case of M.C. Mehta - Pollution Control in respect of West Bengal Industries, and Tanneries.
He was also appointed standing Counsel for the Election Commission of India for Supreme Court matters in March 1995. He was also appointed Member of the Task force constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in November 1995 for examining and reporting on the amendments needed in the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
Justice Khanwilkar has a wide range of exposure in Criminal, Civil, Constitutional, Election and Co-operative matters. He also remained Executive Member of the Supreme Court Bar Association and Joint Secretary and Executive Member of the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association.