Ranchi, Dec. 4: Justice Nelovoy Dhinkar took oath as the chief justice of Jharkhand High Court this morning.

At a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan, Justice Dhinkar, a former justice of Madras High Court, was administered the oath of the office by Governor Syed Sibtey Razi.

Chief minister Arjun Munda, his cabinet colleagues, all the sitting judges of the high court, including officers of the registry and legal services, were present. Many Opposition leaders and JMM president Shibu Soren were also present.

Justice Dhinkar, the fourth chief justice of the high court, took charge as his predecessor Justice Altamas Kabir has been elevated to the Supreme Court.

Justice Dhinkar, enrolled as an advocate in 1968, practised criminal and constitutional law. He was also appointed a public prosecutor and later became a government pleader.

Justice Dhinkar was appointed a judge of Madras High Court on October 17, 1994. He was later transferred to Kerala High Court for a short while after which he returned again to Madras High Court. He is due to retire in June next year, sources said.

With Justice Dhinkar?s appointment, the number of judges in the high court has increased to six from five against a required strength of 12 judges.