The President has appointed Justice Rana Bhagwandas, the most senior Judge of the Supreme Court, to act as Chief Justice of Pakistan with effect from the date he resumes his office. The Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights stated this officially here on Thursday.
The official statement said: "Before entering upon office the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan shall make oath before the next available senior Judge of Supreme Court at Karachi or Islamabad." Under Article 180 of the Constitution, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court is to act as Chief Justice in the absence of the Chief Justice.
Justice Rana Baghwandas will take oath on Saturday. The oath taking ceremony will be held at ceremonial hall of the Supreme Court Registry, Karachi. In its order of 9th March, the 5-member Supreme Judicial Council had restrained Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to perform functions as Judge of the Supreme Court or as the Chief Justice of Pakistan till the Reference sent by the President was answered by the Council.
In its preliminary reply to the SJC, the "non-functional chief justice" had raised objections to the appointment of an Acting Chief Justice and SJC order dated March 9, 2007. Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who returned to Karachi from India on Wednesday, was on leave till March 22, 2007.
Justice Bhagwandas has a glittering and immaculate professional career stretched over 39 years. Born on 20th December 1946, in Naseerabad, Larkana district, Rana Bhagwandas holds a Masters degree in Islamic Studies, besides LLB and LLM and has twice served as Acting Chief Justice in 2005 and 2006.
He jointed Bar in 1965 and later opted to become a judge through Sindh Judicial Service in July 1967. He was appointed as a Judge of the Sindh High Court on June 6, 1994 and was elevated to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in February 2000. He will retire on December 20 this year on completion of service at the age of 65.
APP adds: According to Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Javed Iqbal, Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan, will administer oath in the oath-taking ceremony scheduled to be held in the Ceremonial Hall of the Supreme Court Registry, Karachi.
The oath-taking ceremony will be attended by Judges of the Supreme Court available at the Karachi Registry, Law officers, Advocates and Advocates on Records besides senior officers of the Supreme Court.
Justice Rana Baghwandas will perform his duties as Acting Chief Justice according to the notification issued by the Law & Justice and Human Rights after his appointment by the President under Article 180 of the Constitution.