Mohammad Rafiq sworn in as chief justice of Meghalaya High Court

Shillong: Justice Mohammad Rafiq was sworn in as the new chief justice of the Meghalaya High Court by governor Tathagata Roy at Raj Bhavan in Shillong on Wednesday.

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong, acting Chief Justice Hamar Singh Thangkhiew, and other senior officials were present in the ceremony.

Speaking to reporters after being sworn in as the new chief justice, Justice Rafiq said that his priority is to look into the cases which are more than five years old.

“I am told that there are 2,500 cases in the subordinate court in the state. I will try to strengthen the computerisation of the high court and the subordinate court. This will be my priority,” he said.

According to him, he will also try to boost the lok adalat movement and the medical cell in the court.

Also Read: Meghalaya: 41 days later, ‘108’ workers call off hunger strike

Justice Rafiq succeeds Ajay Kumar Mittal, who is now the chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. He will be the eighth chief justice of the Meghalaya High Court.

Born in Churu, Rajasthan, Rafiq started his law practice in 1984. He practised exclusively in the Rajasthan High Court in almost all branches of law. He served as an advocate from 1999 to 2006.

He has been recognised as an expert on the Indian Constitution, service, land acquisition, tax and company law cases.

In 2008, he was appointed as Justice at the Rajasthan High Court. Rafiq also served as acting chief justice of Rajasthan High Court twice.