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Hon'ble The Chief Justice R. Banumathi

Jharkhand High Court, Ranchi

      Born on 20.07.1955. Enrolled on 07.01.1981. Practised on Civil and Criminal sides in Tirupattur and District Court, Krishnagiri, Harur and moffusil courts. Entered Tamilnadu Higher Judicial Service in 1988 as a direct recruit ‘District Judge’. Worked as District and Sessions Judge in Coimbatore, Vellore and Principal District and Sessions Judge, Pudukottai, Madras, Tirunelveli and Salem. Also worked as Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Madras. As a District Judge dealt with number of landmark cases and also led One-Man Commission on Police Excess by STF in Chinnampathy village, Coimbatore District in 1995-1996. 

         As District Judge, was actively involved in Lok Adalat and Legal Literacy Programme. Organised number of Legal Literacy Camps and Lok Adalats in Pudukottai, Tirunelveli, Salem and Madras. 

         Elevated as Judge, High Court, Madras on 03.04.2003. As Judge of Madras High Court dealt with many important cases (i) ‘Banning Jallikattu and Bull Fight, Manjuvirattu (Rekla Race) which paved the way for formulating regulations relating to Jallikattu; (ii) Chidambaram Natarajar Temple case upholding appointment of Executive Officer to the temple thereby upholding control of the State Government in non-secular activities of the temple; (iii) Many important Criminal Appeals; (iv) Lawyers Vs. Police incident in the High Court premises on 19.02.2009; (v) Illegal Magnesite quarrying in Kondappannaickenpet, Salem upholding the right of State Government and ordering delivery of possession of the land; (vi) Land Acquisition Cases; (vii) Tax Cases.

            Appointed as The Chief Justice of the High Court of Jharkhand from 16th November 2013 to 12th of August 2014.

Took Oath as Judge of The Supreme Court of India on 13th of August, 2014.

         ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES & TAMIL NADU STATE JUDICIAL ACADEMY

         Keenly interested in continuing judicial education for Judicial Officers and strengthening Judicial Systems. Was the Director of the Training Programme for Civil Judges (Junior Division) during 1998. 

         From 2008 to 2010 - As a Member of Board of Governors in Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy played key role in organizing several Training Programmes in the Academy and throughout the State of Tamil Nadu responding to the need for continuing judicial education for strengthening judicial system. Also organised Induction Training Programmes for 185 Civil Judges (Junior Division) – 2009 Batch.

         As President of Board Governors from September, 2012, organised Induction Training Programme for 165 Civil Judges (Junior Division) – 2012 Batch. Also organised several programmes for Judicial Officers on “Women and Children”, “Speedy disposal of Corruption Cases”, “Just Compensation for Motor Accident Claims” and other relevant topics. Brought out book on “Effective District Administration and Court Management” for the guidance of District Judiciary

         Planned and organised systematic training programme for High Court Staff Members and also for Staff Members of District Judiciary by bringing out the Books on (i) Court Staff – Registers and Legal Procedure and (ii) Important Legal Provisions at a glance. 
         CHAIRMAN/MEMBER OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES

         As Member of Administrative Committee and being the Member of various Committees and Chairman of Finance Committee, played key role in the administration of the Madras High Court. Also played a key role in the recruitment of District Judges (Entry Level) in 2010 and recruitment of Civil Judges (Junior Division) in 2012. 

         Was a Member of COFEPOSA Advisory Board of Tamil Nadu from 24.06.2009 and Chairman of the Board from 15.10.2012. 
LEGAL SERVICES/LOK ADALATS
         Executive Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services with effect from 15th July, 2013. 

         Chairman of Madras High Court Legal Services Committee from 21.2.2011 to 20.1.2012 and during the said period organised Seven Mega Lok Adalats before the Principal Bench and Madurai Bench of Madras High Court and settled 1083 cases [4 Adalats at Principal Bench (659 cases) and 3 Adalats at Madurai Bench (424 cases). 

         Participated in number of programmes organised by Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority for “Slum and Downtrodden people and also for Women and Children”. 

         Being the Executive Chairman of Union Territory of Puducherry Legal Services Authority, organised number of Legal Aid/Legal Literacy Camps and also organised one Mega Lok Adalat and settled 693 cases. 

         As the Administrative Judge of various Districts – Kanyakumari, Vellore, Coimbatore was instrumental in organising number of Mega Lok Adalats and settled 1603 cases. 

         BOOKS AUTHORED/ARTICLES PUBLISHED

         Authored the Book “Hand Book of Civil and Criminal Courts Management and use of Computers” and Hand Books for the guidance of Tamil Nadu State Judicial Ministerial Staff. 

         Article on “Visualisation of Subordinate Courts in 2025” (Published in (2009) 1 MLJ Journal Section 8). 

         Article on Socio-Economic Revolution - Agenda of the Constitution of India: The Role of Law Colleges and Judicial Academies (Published in 2010 (3) CTC Journal Section 69). 

         PARTICIPATION IN THE CONFERENCES/SEMINARS IN NATIONAL JUDICIAL ACADEMY, BHOPAL AND OTHER SEMINARS

         Resource Person in National Judicial Academy, Bhopal 

         In August 2007 - Participated in High Court Justices Conference held on Development of Law: “Cyber Law and IPRS: Current Issues and Emerging Trends. 

         In 2009 – Participated in the Conference on “Orientation Programme for newly appointed Additional District Judges”. 

         In 2009 – Participated in High Court Judges Conference on “Human Rights”. Also participated in Regional Conference of National Judicial Academy held at Chennai and addressed on the topic “Administration of Criminal Justice.” 

         In 2010 – Participated in the Seminar on the Socio-Economic Revolution - Agenda of the Constitution of India: The Role of Law Colleges and Judicial Academies as discussant and presented a paper on the themes. 

         Participated in the Annual Calendar Meeting to develop National Judicial Academy’s Annual Calendar for the Academic year 2010-2011 and also 2013-2014. 

         February, 2013 – Participated as Guest Speaker in National Seminar on Land Acquisition Law & Two days National Conference on Forest & Environment vis-à-vis Mining Law, held at Puri, Odisha organised by the Odisha Judicial Academy.