Justice Lodha is India's new chief justice

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha was Sunday sworn in as the chief justice of India. He was administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukharjee.

Chief Justice Lodha, 64, is the 41st chief justice.

The oath taking ceremony at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan was also attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and cabinet ministers Sushilkumar Shinde, A.K. Antony, Kapil Sibal and M. Veerappa Moily.

Former chief justices A.M. Ahmedi and A.S. Anand were also present.

Chief Justice Lodha succeeds Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, who demitted office on completion of his term Saturday. He will preside over the Supreme Court for five months as his term will end Sep 27, 2014.

Chief Justice Lodha has heard a large number of important cases.

This includes one on irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks in which he famously described the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a "caged parrot speaking in its master's voice".

He recently presided over a five-judge constitution bench that heard several matters requiring the interpretation of the constitution.

A law graduate from Jodhpur University, Lodha practised law in the Rajasthan High Court and dealt with constitutional, civil, company, criminal, taxation, labour and other matters.

He also appeared as counsel for the central and Rajasthan governments.

He was elevated as a permanent judge of the Rajasthan High Court Jan 31, 1994. He moved to the Bombay High Court Feb 16, 1994 and remained there for the next 13 years. Lodha returned to the Rajasthan High Court Feb 2, 2007.

He moved to the Patna High Court as chief justice May 13, 2008. Eight months later, Chief Justice Lodha was elevated to the Supreme Court.

He is also associated with the Jodhpur-based National Law University as its executive member.