Justice Dipak Misra sworn in as Chief Justice of India.

Johnson Cherian.

Justice Dipak Misra was on Monday sworn in as the 45th Chief Justice of India (CJI).

At a brief ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Ramnath Kovind administered the oath of office to Mr. Misra.

Justice Misra, 64, assumes office following the retirement of Justice J.S. Khehar on Sunday. With Justice Khehar’s exit, the Aadhaar Constitution Bench has lost its lead judge. It will be up to Justice Misra now to either lead the Bench or have Justice Chelameswar lead it.

Justice Misra will have a tenure of about 14 months till October 2, 2018.

As per the established practice, Justice Khehar had named Mr. Misra as the next CJI last month.

Justice Misra made history when he led the three-judge Bench that heard Yakub Memon, the sole condemned man in the Bombay blasts case, who came knocking on the Supreme Court’s door for reprieve in the early hours of the day he was hanged to death.