Bhubaneswar: Justice Chokalingam Nagappan was sworn-in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. He took over the charge after Governor M C Bhandare administered the oath of office in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and top bureaucrats.

The Senior Judge of Madras High Court justice Nagappan was appointed as the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court on Feb 23. He was scheduled to join the office today.

Born on October 4, 1951, Justice Nagappan had started his legal career on August 7, 1974. He held the post as a District Judge in 1987 and a Sessions Judge and Special Officer of Madras High Court Vigilance Cell.

He has also worked as the Chairman of State Transport Appellate Tribunal and Additional Judge in Madras High Court in 2000. He became a permanent Judge in Madras High Court on September 20, 2002.

The Chief Justice post in Orissa High Court was vacant after V. Gopalagowda was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court in December last year. Senior judge of the high court Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty was holding the post for temporary period.