The Gauhati High Court is one of the most important High Courts in Northeast India. Established in 1948 as the High Court of Assam, it has witnessed several major changes in the region’s political and administrative history.
Over the years, the court has served different northeastern states and has been headed by several distinguished judges, many of whom later became judges or Chief Justices of other High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.
Justice Ashutosh Kumar is the present Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court. He took oath on 21 July 2025 and is the 43rd regular Chief Justice of the court, excluding those who served only as Acting Chief Justice.
This article provides the complete list of Chief Justices of Gauhati High Court, its history, important judicial figures, and the evolution of its jurisdiction.
When Was Gauhati High Court Established?
The history of the Gauhati High Court goes back to the period immediately following India’s independence.
On 9 September 1947, the Assam Legislative Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a High Court for Assam. The Assam High Court Order, 1948 was subsequently promulgated on 1 March 1948.
The High Court of Assam officially came into existence on 5 April 1948. Sir Harilal Kania, the first Chief Justice of India, presided over its inauguration. Sir R. F. Lodge was sworn in as its first Chief Justice.
Interestingly, the court initially functioned from Shillong and shifted to Gauhati (now Guwahati) on 14 August 1948.
Who Was the First Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court?
Sir Ronald Francis Lodge, popularly known as Sir R. F. Lodge, was the first Chief Justice of the Assam High Court, the institution that later became the Gauhati High Court.
He took oath on 5 April 1948, the day the Assam High Court was inaugurated, and served until 7 April 1949. According to the Gauhati High Court’s official profile, he had earlier served as a Sessions Judge in Assam and as Registrar of the Calcutta High Court. He also authored the first judgment of the Assam High Court in Ali Laskar vs Arabjan Bibi.
His appointment marked the beginning of a judicial institution that would eventually become the principal High Court for much of Northeast India.
How Did Assam High Court Become Gauhati High Court?
The name and jurisdiction of the court changed several times as the political map of Northeast India evolved.
1. High Court of Assam — 1948
The court was established in 1948 as the High Court of Assam.
2. High Court of Assam and Nagaland — 1963
When Nagaland became a state in 1963, the court became known as the High Court of Assam and Nagaland with effect from 1 December 1963.
3. Gauhati High Court — 1971
The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971 created a common High Court for Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. It was called the Gauhati High Court.
For several decades, therefore, the Gauhati High Court had jurisdiction over a very large part of Northeast India.
4. Creation of Separate High Courts
The judicial structure of the Northeast changed again in 2013 with the establishment of separate High Courts for Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura.
Today, the Gauhati High Court has jurisdiction over:
- Assam
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
Its principal seat is in Guwahati, with permanent benches at Kohima, Aizawl and Itanagar
| No. | Chief Justice | Tenure |
| 1 | Sir Ronald Francis Lodge | 1948–1949 |
| 2 | T. V. Thadani | 1948–1949 |
| 3 | Sarjoo Prasad | 1949–1950 |
| 4 | Chandreswar Prasad Sinha | 1950–1952 |
| 5 | Holiram Deka | 1952 |
| 6 | G. Mehrotra | 1952–1953 |
| 7 | C. S. Row Nayudu | 1965–1970 |
| 8 | S. K. Dutta | 1973 |
| 9 | M. C. Pathak | 1973–1977 |
| 10 | M. S. Swami | 1977–1978 |
| 11 | C. M. Lodha | 1978–1979 |
| 12 | Baharul Islam | 1979–1980 |
| 13 | Dambarudhar Pathak | 1980–1983 |
| 14 | T. S. Misra | 1983–1985 |
| 15 | P. C. Reddy | 1985–1986 |
| 16 | K. M. Lahiri | 1986 |
| 17 | K. N. Saikia | 1986–1988 |
| 18 | G. M. Lodha | 1988 |
| 19 | A. S. Raghuvir | 1988–1991 |
| 20 | U. L. Bhat | 1991–1994 |
| 21 | R. K. Manisana Singh | 1994 |
| 22 | V. K. Khanna | 1994–1997 |
| 23 | M. Ramakrishna | 1997–1999 |
| 24 | Brijesh Kumar | 1999–2000 |
| 25 | N. C. Jain | 2000–2001 |
| 26 | R. S. Mongia | 2001–2002 |
| 27 | P. P. Naolekar | 2002–2004 |
| 28 | Binod Kumar Roy | 2004–2005 |
| 29 | B. Sudarshan Reddy | 2005–2007 |
| 30 | Jasti Chelameswar | 2007–2010 |
| 31 | Ramesh Surajmal Garg | 2010 |
| 32 | Madan Lokur | 2010–2011 |
| 33 | Adarsh Kumar Goel | 2011–2013 |
| 34 | Abhay Manohar Sapre | 2013–2014 |
| 35 | Ajit Singh | 2016–2018 |
| 36 | A. S. Bopanna | 2018–2019 |
| 37 | Ajai Lamba | 2019–2020 |
| 38 | Sudhanshu Dhulia | 2021–2022 |
| 39 | Rashmin Manharbhai Chhaya | 2022–2023 |
| 40 | Sandeep Mehta | 2023 |
| 41 | Vijay Bishnoi | 2024–2025 |
| 42 | Ashutosh Kumar | 2025–Present |
Note: Historical records of the early Chief Justices can differ in how acting appointments, overlapping dates and brief tenures are presented. The Gauhati High Court’s own historical records should be treated as the primary reference for individual profiles and tenure details.
Who Is the Current Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court?
Justice Ashutosh Kumar is the current Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
He took oath as Chief Justice on 21 July 2025 after being appointed by the President of India. The Department of Justice notification states that he was appointed Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court with effect from the date he assumed office.
Before becoming Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Ashutosh Kumar served as a judge of the Patna High Court. He had also served as a judge of the Delhi High Court before returning to Patna.
The Department of Justice’s April 2026 list of High Court Chief Justices records his appointment as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court from 21 July 2025, with his parent High Court listed as Patna.
Who Was the Chief Justice Before Ashutosh Kumar?
Justice Vijay Bishnoi was the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court immediately before Justice Ashutosh Kumar.
Justice Bishnoi took oath as Chief Justice on 5 February 2024. He was subsequently elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court of India and assumed office on 30 May 2025.
Before Justice Ashutosh Kumar took charge, Justice Lanusungkum Jamir served as Acting Chief Justice. The Department of Justice issued the order appointing him Acting Chief Justice with effect from 29 May 2025.
Judges of Gauhati High Court Who Reached the Supreme Court
The Gauhati High Court has played an important role in India’s higher judiciary. Several judges associated with the court later became judges of the Supreme Court.
Justice Ranjan Gogoi
One of the most prominent names associated with the Gauhati High Court is Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
He served as a judge and later as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court. He subsequently became the 46th Chief Justice of India.
His career is an important example of the national significance of the Gauhati High Court.
Justice Jasti Chelameswar
Justice Jasti Chelameswar served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court from 12 January 2007 to 17 March 2010. He was later elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
He was also one of the four senior Supreme Court judges who held the notable 2018 press conference concerning issues relating to the administration of the Supreme Court.
Justice Madan Lokur
Justice Madan Lokur served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court from 18 June 2010 to 20 December 2011 before being elevated to the Supreme Court.
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia became Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in January 2021. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2022.
Justice Sandeep Mehta
Justice Sandeep Mehta served as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court from February 2023 before being elevated to the Supreme Court in November 2023.
Justice Vijay Bishnoi
Justice Vijay Bishnoi became Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in February 2024 and was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2025.
This long list illustrates the important role the Gauhati High Court has played in India’s judicial system.
Why Is the Gauhati High Court Important?
The Gauhati High Court is important not only because of its age but also because of the geographical and constitutional significance of its jurisdiction.
For much of its history, it functioned as a common High Court for several northeastern states. This required the court to deal with diverse legal systems, customary practices, constitutional questions, tribal rights, land issues and the special provisions applicable to the Northeast.
The official history of the court describes it as a unique institution because of the large and diverse region over which it once exercised jurisdiction.
Gauhati High Court: Important Facts
| Question | Answer |
| When was Gauhati High Court established? | 5 April 1948 |
| What was it originally called? | High Court of Assam |
| Who was its first Chief Justice? | Sir R. F. Lodge |
| Where did the court initially sit? | Shillong |
| When did it shift to Guwahati? | 14 August 1948 |
| When did it become Gauhati High Court? | 1971 |
| Present jurisdiction | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland |
| Principal seat | Guwahati |
| Permanent benches | Kohima, Aizawl and Itanagar |
| Current Chief Justice | Justice Ashutosh Kumar |
| Current Chief Justice since | 21 July 2025 |
The establishment date, initial location and evolution of the court are recorded in the official history published by the Gauhati High Court.
Conclusion
The history of the Chief Justices of Gauhati High Court closely follows the judicial and political evolution of Northeast India.
From Sir R. F. Lodge, who led the newly established Assam High Court in 1948, to Justice Ashutosh Kumar, who assumed office as Chief Justice in 2025, the court has passed through several stages of institutional and territorial change.
Its significance extends beyond Assam. Over the decades, judges associated with the Gauhati High Court have gone on to serve in the Supreme Court and occupy important positions in India’s judicial system.
The court therefore remains an important institution not only for Assam but for the wider constitutional and legal landscape of Northeast India.
For students preparing for UPSC, APSC and other competitive examinations, the history, jurisdiction and evolution of the Gauhati High Court are particularly useful topics for understanding the constitutional and administrative history of Northeast India.
Sources: Gauhati High Court official website; Department of Justice, Government of India.
FAQs on Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court
Who was the first Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court?
Sir Ronald Francis Lodge (Sir R. F. Lodge) was the first Chief Justice of the Assam High Court, which later became the Gauhati High Court. He took oath on 5 April 1948.
How many Chief Justices has Gauhati High Court had?
The Gauhati High Court has had 43 regular Chief Justices, excluding judges who served only as Acting Chief Justice.