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New Delhi : The President of India has authorised Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant, Member, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India, to act as its Chairperson w.e.f April 25, 2021. Prior to his appointment as Member, NHRC on April 22, 2019, he was a Judge of the Supreme Court of India from August 13, 2014, to August 29, 2017.
Justice Pant was born in the State of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh State) on August 30, 1952. After his primary and secondary education, he graduated from Allahabad University with a degree of Bachelor of Science, and thereafter, obtained the degree of LL.B from Lucknow University.
Justice Pant enrolled with the UP. Bar Council at Allahabad in 1973, and practiced Law in the High Court of Judication at Allahabad. From February 1976 to November 1976, he served as Inspector Central Excise and Customs at Sagaur, MP. Thereafter, he entered into Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service in the year 1976 through Uttar Pradesh Civil (Judicial) Services Examination, 1973. He was promoted to Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service in 1990. After creation of the new State of Uttarakhand, he served as the first Secretary, Law and Justice of the State. He also held the post of District and Sessions Judge at Nainital before being posted as Registrar General of the High Court of Uttarakhand at Nainital, according to an NHRC release.
Justice Pant took oath of Office of Additional Judge, High Court of Uttarakhand on June 29, 2004, whereafter, on February 19, 2008, he was administered oath as a permanent Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court. He assumed charge of Office of Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya at Shillong on September 20, 2013, and continued till August 12, 2014. On being further elevated, he took oath of Office of Judge, Supreme Court of India, on August 13, 2014 and demitted the office on August 29, 2017.
He has written books on different subjects of law, which includes, ‘Marriage, Divorce and other matrimonial disputes’, ‘Commentary on Code of Civil Procedure’, ‘Relief of Injunctions and Sundar Nirnay Kaise Likhen’ (in Hindi).