The Central government has notified the appointment of Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, currently a judge of the Karnataka High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.

The appointment follows the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium made on May 15. According to the official notification issued today, the President exercised the powers under Article 217(1) of the Constitution to appoint Justice Somashekar to the new role. He will assume charge from the date he takes oath.

Justice Somashekar will succeed Justice D Krishnakumar, the current Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, who is set to retire on May 21.

Justice Somashekar began his judicial career as a District and Sessions Judge on June 17, 1998. He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court on November 14, 2016, and became a permanent judge on November 3, 2018.