Dipak Misra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dipak Misra
Misra in 2017
45th Chief Justice of India
In office 28 August 2017 – 2 October 2018
Appointed by	Ram Nath Kovind
Preceded by	Jagdish Singh Khehar
Succeeded by	Ranjan Gogoi
Judge of the Supreme Court of India
In office 10 October 2011 – 28 August 2017
Nominated by	S. H. Kapadia
Appointed by	Pratibha Patil
25th Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court
In office 24 May 2010 – 9 October 2011
Nominated by	K. G. Balakrishnan
Appointed by	Pratibha Patil
Preceded by	Ajit Prakash Shah
Succeeded by	D. Murugesan
36th Chief Justice of the Patna High Court
In office 1 December 2009 – 23 May 2010
Nominated by	K. G. Balakrishnan
Appointed by	Pratibha Patil
Preceded by	Prafulla Kumar Mishra
Succeeded by	Rekha Manharlal Doshit
Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court
In office 3 March 1997 – 30 November 2009
Nominated by	A. M. Ahmadi
Appointed by	Shankar Dayal Sharma
Judge of the Orissa High Court
In office 17 January 1996 – 2 March 1997
Nominated by	A. M. Ahmadi
Appointed by	Shankar Dayal Sharma
Personal details
Born	(1953-10-03) 3 October 1953 (age 71)
Relatives	Ranganath Misra (uncle)
Alma mater	Madhusudan Law College, Cuttack

Dipak Misra (born 3 October 1953) is an Indian lawyer who became a judge. He served as the 45th Chief Justice of India from August 28, 2017, to October 2, 2018. Before that, he was the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court and the Delhi High Court. His uncle, Justice Ranganath Misra, was also a Chief Justice of India.

A Judge's Journey

Dipak Misra started his legal career as a lawyer on February 14, 1977. He worked at the Orissa High Court. In 1996, he became an Additional Judge in the Orissa High Court. The next year, he moved to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, where he became a Permanent Judge.

In December 2009, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. He served there until May 2010. Then, he became the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. On October 10, 2011, he was appointed as a judge in the Supreme Court of India.

Misra became the 45th Chief Justice of India on August 28, 2017. He held this important position for about 13 months. He retired when he turned 65 on October 2, 2018. Ranjan Gogoi took over as the next Chief Justice.

Important Decisions

Justice Dipak Misra made many important decisions during his time as a judge. These decisions helped shape laws and protect people's rights in India.

Making Police Reports Public

One of his important decisions was in the Own Motion vs State case. He ordered the Delhi Police to put First Information Reports (FIRs) on their website. An FIR is a document police create when they start investigating a crime. By making them public within 24 hours, people accused of crimes could easily see the report. This helped them prepare their defense in court.

Rules for Job Promotions

Justice Misra also worked on cases about reservation in job promotions. He and Justice Dalveer Bhandari said that reservations in promotions could only happen if there was enough proof. This proof had to show that it was truly needed. They rejected a government's plan because it did not provide enough valid information.

Sharing River Water

Justice Misra also led a Supreme Court panel that settled a very old dispute. This dispute was about sharing the water of the Cauvery river. This river is very important for the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The court decided that rivers are a national resource, not owned by any one state. They also said that water should be shared fairly. Drinking water needs were given the highest priority.

Progress in a Land Dispute Case

During Justice Misra's time, there was progress in the Ayodhya land dispute case. His panel focused the case only on who owned the land. They did not allow other groups to get involved. His panel also decided that a mosque is not always essential to the Muslim way of worship. This decision was important for the land dispute.

Protecting Individual Rights

Justice Misra made a historic decision about a law called Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. This law made certain private acts between consenting adults illegal. His panel decided that parts of this law were unfair and wrong. He said that everyone has the right to be themselves and to have their own identity and dignity. This decision was a big step for individual freedom and equality.

Freedom of Speech and Reputation

In a case called Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India, Justice Misra and Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant made a decision about defamation. Defamation is when someone says or writes something false that harms another person's reputation. The court said that defamation can still be a criminal offense. They explained that while people have freedom of speech, they also have a right to their good name. This right is protected by the Indian Constitution. The court said that judges are independent and will prevent any misuse of the law.

Right to Choose Who You Marry

Justice Misra also made a decision about the right to marry. In the Hadiya court case, he said that choosing who you marry is a very important part of your right to life and freedom. He also said that choosing your faith is a key part of who you are. If you cannot choose, your freedom of choice is not complete.

Stopping Harm in the Name of Honor

In a case about "honor crimes," Justice Misra strongly spoke against actions that harm people in the name of family honor. He wrote that such actions take away a person's freedom and dignity. He said that no group should be allowed to hurt or mistreat someone for their choices in love and marriage. He emphasized that individual choice is a key part of liberty and dignity under the Constitution.

National Anthem in Cinemas

He was part of the panel that first ordered the playing of the National Anthem before films in cinemas. This required the audience to stand up. Later, he changed the order to make it clearer for people with disabilities. He also relaxed the rule, saying that if a cinema chose to play the anthem, people should stand as a sign of respect.

Promoting Equality

Justice Misra is seen as a champion for equality. He led several important panels that made decisions supporting equal rights for women and the LGBT community. .....

Challenges Faced

Concerns from Other Judges

On January 12, 2018, four senior judges of the Supreme Court held a press conference. They expressed concerns about how Justice Misra was managing the court and assigning cases. However, people close to Justice Misra disagreed with these claims. Some legal experts felt that this public disagreement could harm public trust in the judiciary.

Impeachment Attempt

On April 20, 2018, some political parties tried to remove Justice Misra from his position. They submitted a petition to the Vice-President, Venkaiah Naidu. The petition had signatures from many parliament members. However, on April 23, 2018, the Vice-President rejected the petition. He said that the complaints were about how the court was run, not about serious misconduct. He also stated that such an action could interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

Questions About Past Work

In April 2025, a court in Singapore questioned some international arbitration awards. They found that parts of these awards, which Justice Dipak Misra had overseen, were copied from other similar awards. The court noted that the copied parts did not consider differences in arguments or situations.