Justice Sujoy Paul becomes the new Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court

Justice Sujoy Paul was formally recommended as the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court by the Supreme Court Collegium. Justice Paul had been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the prestigious court following the retirement of former Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam and the subsequent transfer of Justice Soumen Sen to the Meghalaya High Court. His permanent appointment brings stability to the leadership of India’s oldest High Court.

Born into an expatriate Bengali family in Madhya Pradesh, Justice Paul’s legal journey is marked by excellence and integrity. He completed his schooling at L. S. Jha Model School and pursued his higher education at Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur. After a successful stint as a lawyer specializing in constitutional and civil matters, he was elevated to the bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2011. He later served in the Telangana High Court before being transferred to Kolkata in July 2025.

The appointment is particularly noteworthy as it marks the return of a Bengali judge to the helm of the Calcutta High Court after a gap of nearly seven years. Since 2018, the post of Chief Justice has been held by esteemed judges from other linguistic backgrounds. Legal experts and members of the Bar have welcomed the move, citing Justice Paul's deep understanding of judicial procedures and his connection to the state's cultural fabric.

During his brief tenure as Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul has already presided over several high-profile benches and administrative decisions. His transfer to Kolkata was initially recommended in May 2025 to maintain judicial ethics after his son began practicing in the same court in Madhya Pradesh.