Justice M.S.R. Sri Ramachandra Rao was sworn in as the 9th Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court at a solemn oath-taking ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Agartala. Tripura CM Manik Saha and top dignitaries attended the event. Justice Rao brings decades of judicial experience to the post.
In a solemn ceremony held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, Agartala, Justice Mamidanna Satya Ratna Sri Ramachandra Rao was sworn in as the 9th Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court. The oath of office was administered by Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Cabinet ministers, top bureaucrats, security officials, and dignitaries from the legal fraternity.
Justice Rao succeeds former Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, who has been transferred to the Telangana High Court. The appointment of Justice Rao follows the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation in May and the Union Government’s approval on July 14.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha congratulated Justice Rao and expressed hope that the judiciary in the state would continue to serve the people with greater diligence and integrity under his leadership. Sharing his thoughts on social media, CM Saha wrote, “Key moments from oath-taking ceremony of Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court, Justice M.S.R. Sri Ramachandra Rao Ji, at Raj Bhavan, Agartala.”
State Information & Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, who also attended the event, shared a message in Bengali extending his greetings to the newly appointed Chief Justice and lauded the significance of the occasion in the judicial history of Tripura.
Justice Rao brings a legacy of judicial excellence and a rich family heritage in law. Born on August 7, 1966, in Hyderabad, he earned a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Mathematics from Bhavan’s New Science College, Osmania University, where he topped his class. He completed his LL.B. from the same university in 1989 and was awarded the prestigious CVSS Acharyulu Gold Medal for securing the highest marks.
He was enrolled as an advocate in 1989 and went on to pursue his LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 1991. Justice Rao comes from a distinguished lineage—his father, Justice M. Jagannadha Rao, served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India from 1997 to 2000 and later as Chairman of the Law Commission of India. His grandfather was also a judge in the Andhra Pradesh High Court in the early 1960s.
Justice Rao began his judicial career when he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on June 29, 2012. He assumed full charge as a Judge on December 4, 2013. He served briefly as the Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court and later held the position of Judge at the Punjab and Haryana High Court until May 29, 2023.
On May 30, 2023, he was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and subsequently, on September 25, 2024, he took charge as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. His elevation to the Tripura High Court marks another key milestone in his remarkable judicial career.
The Tripura High Court, one of the youngest in the country, was established in March 2013 along with High Courts in Meghalaya and Manipur. Prior to that, all northeastern states except Sikkim were under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court.
As Chief Justice of Tripura, Justice Rao is expected to bring his extensive experience, academic excellence, and judicial clarity to strengthen the state’s legal infrastructure and ensure timely delivery of justice.
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The oath-taking ceremony was attended by a wide cross-section of state functionaries, members of the Bar, and senior judicial officers, symbolizing the importance of continuity and leadership in the judiciary. With a blend of tradition and modern vision, Justice Rao’s appointment signals a renewed focus on judicial transparency, integrity, and efficient court management in Tripura.
