For the second time in its 154-year storied history, the Bombay High Court is about to appoint a woman Chief Justice

For the second time in its 154-year storied history, the Bombay High Court is about to appoint a woman Chief Justice. Justice Manjula Chellur — also the first woman Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court — is being transferred to the Bombay HC and the Ministry of Law and Justice has already cleared her appointment. She is reportedly going to be sworn in by Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao on August 23.

Justice Manjula Chellur

Even as outgoing Chief Justice Dhirendra Waghela retired on Wednesday, the Ministry of Law and Justice, in consultation with President Pranab Mukherjee and Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur, issued a notification the same day announcing Justice Chellur’s appointment as the 41st Chief Justice. As she is due to retire in December 2017, she will serve a term of 16 months.

The only other woman to have served as the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court before her was Justice Sujata Vasant Manohar in 1994.