Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was sworn in as the 49th Chief Justice of India on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. He replaced CJI NV Ramana as the new Chief Justice of India, as President of India Droupadi Murmu administered him the oath on Saturday.

The new Chief Justice of India UU Lalit has a short-term in his tenure of only 74 days. This is because the Chief Justice will be retiring after the end of his tenure as CJI. As per regulations, Supreme Court judges retire after attaining the age of 65, which he will do in 2022. His tenure is set to expire on November 8 and Justice DY Chandrachud is likely to become the next Chief Justice of India. 

Also Read: Watch: Justice UU Lalit sworn in as the 49th CJI

CJI UU Lalit boasts of a more than 100-year-long family connection with the Indian judiciary. His grandfather Ranganath Lalit was a lawyer in Maharashtra’s Solapur during British rule, whereas his 90-year-old father, who also attended his swearing-in ceremony, was an advocate and Bombay High Court judge. He is one of the six senior counsels in the history of the Indian judiciary to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court. The new CJI is also the sixth Chief Justice of India to have a tenure of fewer than 100 days.

Let’s take a look at the other Chief Justices who had tenures of fewer than 100 days.

Justice Kamal Narain Singh

The 22nd Chief Justice of India, Justice Kamal Narain Singh’s tenure as CJI began on November 25, 1991, after being appointed by President Ramaswamy Venkataraman and came to an end on December 12, 1991. He had a tenure of only 18 days at the office.

Justice S Rajendra Babu 

The 34th Chief Justice of India, Justice S Rajendra Babu’s tenure began on May 2, 2004, and concluded on May 31, 2004. He had a tenure of only 30 days as the CJI. He was appointed by President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Justice Jayantilal Chhotalal Shah

The 12th Chief Justice of India had a tenure of only 36 days. He was appointed by President VV Giri and his tenure ran between December 17, 1970, and January 21, 1971.

Also Read: All you need to know about CJI UU Lalit’s family

Justice Gopal Ballav Pattanaik

The 32nd CJI had a 41-day tenure after being appointed by President APJ Abdul Kalam. His tenure began on November 8, 2002, and finished on December 18, 2002.

Justice Lalit Mohan Sharma

The 24th head of the Indian judiciary, CJI Lalit Mohan Sharma had a tenure of 86 days and is the only CJI who had a less than 100 days tenure, having more time in the role than the 49th and current CJI UU Lalit.

Justice Lalit Mohan Sharma was appointed by President Shankar Dayal Sharma and had a tenure of 86 days. His tenure began on November 18, 1992, and came to an end on February 11, 1993.