Dambarudhar Pathak

Chief Justice Dambarudhar Pathak
Vice Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal
In office 3 March 1986 – 28 February 1989
Appointed by	Zail Singh
Chairman	K. Madhava Reddy Amitav Banerji
11th Chief justice of Orissa High Court
In office 11 August 1983 – 28 February 1986
Nominated by	Y. V. Chandrachud
Appointed by	Zail Singh
Preceded by	Ranganath Misra P. K. Mohanti (acting)
Succeeded by	Hari Lal Agrawal B. N. Misra (acting)
14th Chief justice of Gauhati High Court
In office 18 April 1983 – 8 August 1983
Nominated by	Y. V. Chandrachud
Appointed by	Zail Singh
Preceded by	Baharul Islam
Succeeded by	Tribeni Sahai Misra
Judge of Gauhati High Court
In office 8 August 1973 – 17 April 1983 Acting CJ : 2 March 1980 – 17 April 1983
Nominated by	Ajit Nath Ray
Appointed by	V. V. Giri
Personal details
Born	(1924-03-01)1 March 1924
Died	10 August 2005(2005-08-10) (aged 81) Guwahati, India
Education	Calcutta University (B.A.), Gauhati University (LL.B), London University (LL.M)

Dambarudhar Pathak (1 March 1924 – 10 August 2005) was an Indian judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court and Gauhati High Court. He also served as judge and acting chief justice of the Gauhati High Court.

Life and career

Pathak was born on 1 March 1924. He obtained B.A. degree from the Calcutta University in 1946 and LL.B. degree from the Gauhati University in 1953. In order to prosecute further studies in law, he went to United Kingdom. From London University, he obtained LL.M. degree in 1957. Prior to obtaining the post graduate degree, he became Bar at law from Lincoln’s Inn in 1956 and on completion of the advanced studies, he returned to India. He was enrolled as an Advocate in the Gauhati High Court in April 1958. From 1961, he also started to conduct cases before the Supreme Court of India.

Pathak served as a part-time law lecturer of the Law College of Gauhati University from 1958 and became the part time Principal of the said college for 3 years before his elevation to the Gauhati High Court Bench. He contributed immensely to the legal literature by writing articles and books.

As judge

On 8 August 1973, Pathak was elevated to the Bench of the Gauhati High Court. On 1 March 1980, he began serving as Acting Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, a position he held until 17 April 1983. He was appointed Chief Justice on 18 April 1983. Pathak's tenure as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court was brief. On 11 August 1983, he was transferred as Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, where he served until his retirement on 28 February 1986. He became the 11th Chief Justice of that court, succeeding Justice Ranganath Misra, who later became Chief Justice of India.

After retirement as chief justice of the Orissa High Court, Pathak was appointed as Vice Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal for 3 years and retired in 1989.

Pathak died at his residence in Guwahati on 10 August 2005, at the age of 81.

References