Subhro Kamal Mukherjee
Subhro Kamal Mukherjee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 28th Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court | |
| In office 23 February 2016[1] – 9 October 2017 | |
| Appointed by | Pranab Mukherjee, President of India |
| Preceded by | Dhirendra Hiralal Waghela |
| Succeeded by | H. G. Ramesh (Acting) |
| Vice-Chancellor of the Rabindra Bharati University | |
| In office 07 July 2023 – Present | |
| Appointed by | Governor of West Bengal |
| Preceded by | Nirmalya Narayan Chakraborty |
| Judge of the Karnataka High Court | |
| In office 15 April 2015 – 22 February 2016 | |
| Appointed by | Pranab Mukherjee, President of India |
| Judge of the Calcutta High Court | |
| In office 15 September 2000 – 14 April 2015 | |
| Appointed by | K. R. Narayanan, President of India |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1955 |
| Spouse |
Krishna Mukherjee (m. 1981) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Calcutta |
Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee (born 10 October 1955, in Bhagalpur) is a former Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka and the current vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University.[2][3] He has served as a justice from February 2016 to October 2017 and currently joined Rabindra Bharati University as Interim VC on July 2023. The Governor of West Bengal appointed as Interim VC of Presidency University, Kolkata in September 2023.[4]
Background
Mukherjee comes from a family of lawyers and is a sixth-generation lawyer.[5] He completed his Master of Arts in History and LLB from Calcutta University. He then joined as an Advocate at Calcutta High Court in 1982 practicing mainly in civil and writ matters.[1]
Judicial career
Justice Mukherjee was appointed a Permanent Judge of Calcutta High Court on 15 September 2000. He was transferred to Karnataka High Court on 15 April 2015.[6] Upon transfer of the then Chief Justice Dhirendra Hiralal Waghela to Odisha High Court,[7] he was appointed the Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka on 1 June 2015.[8] He took oath as the Chief Justice, Karnataka High Court on 23 February 2016. His oath was administered by Vajubhai Vala the Governor of Karnataka.[5]
Controversies
In 2017, the Bar Council of Karnataka sought action against Justice Mukherjee after he commented that Tipu Sultan was not a freedom fighter, but a monarch who fought to safeguard his interests. On his retirement as Chief Justice, he was not accorded the customary farewell following a resolution passed by the Karnataka State Bar Council.[9]
Justice Mukherjee's appointment by Governor C. V. Ananda Bose as the Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University and Presidency University took place amidst centre-state tensions between the Governor and the Government of West Bengal. West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu said, “The Governor’s recent action is aimed at bankrupting the higher education system. He is destroying the statutes of respective state universities. Such appointments have been made without consulting anybody. He is acting in a dictatorial manner.”[10]
In August 2023, Justice Mukherjee stopped going to his office in Rabindra Bharati University "out of fear" after a section of staff members accused him of consuming alcohol inside his University office. Mukherjee denied the allegations and claimed that it was him who was abused by the staff members of the University.[11]
In September 2023, student organisations Independents' Consolidation and Students' Federation of India expressed skepticism over Mukherjee's appointment as Presidency University Vice Chancellor. The student bodies alleged interference of the union government in University appointments and raised questions over his lack of academic qualifications to head an University.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Hon'ble The Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee". karnatakajudiciary.kar.nic.in. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Srivastava, Shilpika (25 February 2016). "Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee sworn-in as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court". Jagranjosh.com. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "I'm not a political person: New Rabindra Bharati University VC Kamal Mukherjee".
- ^ {{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/edugraph/news/west-bengal-governor-appoints-interim-vice-chancellors-of-seven-universities-read-full-details-here/cid/1963688%7Ctitle=West Bengal governor appoints interim vice-chancellors of seven universities}
- ^ a b "Mukherjee sworn in as 28th Chief Justice". The Hindu. 24 February 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee on Wednesday took oath as a judge of Karnataka high court..Justice Mukherjee was transferred recently from the Calcutta high court".
- ^ "Justice Waghela new Odisha Chief Justice". The Hindu.
- ^ "Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee appointed as acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court".
- ^ "Bar association had sought action against Justice Mukherjee for his style of functioning".
- ^ "Mamata Banerjee battles with Governor: This time over university appointments".
- ^ "VC on RBU: 'ভয়ে যেতে পারছি না ..', হেনস্থার অভিযোগ রবীন্দ্রভারতী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের উপাচার্যের".
- ^ "Students sceptical as former judge takes additional charge as VC of Presidency University".