Justice Uday Umesh Lalit took oath as the 49th Chief Justice of India on August 27th 2022.
The President of India Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi.
Prior to his elevation as a judge, he practised as a senior counsel at the Supreme Court.
He is the second one to be appointed directly by the Bar as the Chief Justice of India
He will retire on 8 November 2022 (for a period of seventy-four days).
He ensured that at least one constitution bench is functioning in the Supreme Court throughout the year, listing cases for hearing in the apex court, and mentioning urgent matters.
Justice Lalit's initiative comes at a time when the Supreme Court's pendency has crossed over 71,000 from a little over 55,000 in 2017.
Justice S M Sikri became the 13th CJI in January 1971.
He was the first lawyer to be elevated directly to the top court bench in March 1964.