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Former Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court of India/ Chief Justice of India, who served as Chief Justice/ Hon’ble Judge of this High Court

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Parbati Kumar Goswami
Tenure: 1967 - 1973

Born on Jan 1, 1913, son of Bamdeb Goswami and Jogada Devi. Education - English School, Sibsagar; Cotton College and Earle Law College, Gauhati. He was the winner of Gunabhiram Barooah Silver Medal. Became Judge, Supreme Court of India since 10th September 1973. He joined Bar at Dibrugarh in 1938. He enrolled as an Advocate, Calcutta High Court, 1943; Govt. Pleader and Prosecutor, 1947- 49; enrolled Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, September, 1953. He was a Member, State Law Commission during period 1958-67, State Bar Council and its Disciplinary Committee, 1962 - 1967; Judge, Assam Nagaland High Court, May, 1967. He was the Chief Justice, Assam and Nagaland High Court, Jan. 31, 1970 and also of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on January 21, 1972. Was Acting Governor, Assam and Nagaland from Dec. 70 - Jan. 71. He was a Member, World Association of Judges, Geneva. He was the founder of All-Assam Lawn Tennis Association. While at the Bar connected with several educational institutions and intimately with J.K. Ghosh Kindergarten School. Retired on 01.01.1978.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Baharul Islam
Tenure: 1972 - 1980

Born on 1st March, 1918. Educated at Gurdon High School, Nalbari District, Kamrup, Assam, Cotton College, Gauhati and Aligarh Muslim University. Enrolled as an Advocate of the Assam High Court in 1951 and as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1958. Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1962 and for a second term in 1968. Practised both in the Supreme Court as well as Assam High Court. Appointed Judge of the then Assam and Nagaland High Court (Now Gauhati High Court) on 20th January, 1972 (A.N.). Appointed acting Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on 11.3.1979. Appointed as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on 7.7.1979. Retired on 1st March, 1980. Appointed Judge, Supreme Court of India on 4.12.1980. Retired on 1.3.1983.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice K. N. Saikia
Tenure: 1979 - 1988

Mr. Justice K.N. Saikia, Born on1st March, 1926 at Simaluguri Bharalua Gaon in Sibasagar District of Assam. Early education in Nazira High School. Graduated in first class, Commerce from J.B. College, Jorhat in 1947 and secured first class first position in M.A. (Commerce) examination of Calcutta University in 1949. Appointed as Lecturer in Commerce (Evening Classes) in Gauhati University in 1950. Passed LL.B. Examination of Gauhati University in 1954 securing first class first position. Enrolled as Advocate of Gauhati High Court on 18.4.1955. Having passed the examinations, he was admitted as Associate Member of the Corporation of Certified Secretaries, London in 1956. Promoted as Reader in Commerce (Evening Classes) in 1957. Passed LL.M. Examination of Gauhati University 1959. Professor of Commerce of Gauhati University in 1964. Joined as Professor of Law in Dibrugarh University (Evening classes) on 14.12.1966 and permitted to appear in Court. Resigned in 1969 and devoted to whole-time practice in Gauhati High Court. Did Civil, Criminal, Revenue and Constitutional cases. Appointed as part time Professor of Law in LL.M. Classes of Gauhati University in 1976. In 1978 he was appointed as Chairman of the Assam Land Reforms Commission. Published several books on Commerce and Law. Appointed as permanent Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 12.2.1979. Was Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court from 20.12.1986 to 1.3.1988 (Acting from 20.12.1986 to 13.6.1987). Appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India from December 14, 1988. Retired on 28.2.1991.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Banwari Lal Hansaria
Tenure: 1979 - 1990

Born on 25th December, 1931. Admitted Advocate to the Bar Council of Assam on 25-9-1962. Lecturer in J.B. Law College, Gauhati from August 1969 to April 1971. Appointed District and Sessions Judge from 4.5.1971 (A.N.) Legal Remembrancer and Secretary to the Government of Assam Judicial Department from 15-7-1976 to 9-2-1979. Written a number of books and articles on Law. Appointed Permanent Judge of Gauhati High Court on 12-2-1979. Appointed as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court on 22-02-90. Appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 14-12-93. Retired on 25-12-1996. Died on 03.11.1997.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sailendu Nath Phukan
Tenure: 1985 - 1994

Born on 1.4.1937. Joined Jorhat District Bar as Pleader in the year 1960 and hereafter enrolled as an Advocate in 1962 and joined the Gauhati High Court Bar in the same year. Appointed to the Assam Judicial Service in the year 1963 and continued till May, 1976, in that service. Joined the Government of Meghalaya on deputation from July, 1970, and worked as Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Secretary in the Law Department. Became Law Secretary and Legal Remembrancer in January, 1976. Appointed as a part-time Member of the Meghalaya Board of Revenue and part-time lecturer, Shillong Law College. Commissioner for departmental enquiries for the State. Legal Adviser of various corporations of the State Govt. Appointed as Permanent Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 11.10.85. Transferred to Himachal Pradesh High Court on 30.9.94. Appointed as Chief Justice of that High Court on 1.3.95. Transferred to Orissa High Court on 02.8.1996. Appointed as a Judge of Supreme Court of India on 28.1.1999. Retired on 31.3.2002.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Brijesh Kumar
Tenure: 1999 - 2000

Justice Brijesh Kumar, born on June 10,1939 at Lucknow. After completing education, enrolled as an advocate in October, 1960 and started practice in the High Court (Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court). Appointed as a Standing Counsel for Union of India in the year 1979 and as Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State of U.P. in the year 1983. Appointed as Judge of the Allahabad High Court on May 24, 1984 and as Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court before appointment as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on February 12, 1999. Assumed charge as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on October 19, 2000. Retired on 09/06/2004.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice H. K. Sema
Tenure: 1989 - 2001

Mr. Justice H.K. Sema was born on 01.06.1943. Did his graduation from St. Joseph College Darjeeling in the year 1967. Passed his L.L.B Examination from Govt. Law College, Bombay in 1970. Joined the Bar Council of Assam and Nagaland in 1971. Appointed as Junior Government Advocate, Nagaland in 1971 and continued in the same post up to 28.02.1975. In March 1975, started practice in the High Court as private practitioner. Appointed Assistant Advocate General, Nagaland from 16.11.1985. Appointed Judge in the Gauhati High Court on 24.05.1989. Appointed Acting Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court with effect from 05.04.2001. Transferred to High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and took oath on 07.06.2001 as Judge High Court of Jammu and Kashmir. Appointed Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from 23.08.2001. Appointed Chief Justice of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and took oath on 12.09.2001. Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 9th April, 2002 and Retired on 01.06.2008 (F.N.). Appointed as Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court on 25-01-2000. Appointed as Judge of Supreme Court of India on 05-03-2002. Justice Sema also served as the Chairperson of Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice P. P. Naolekar
Tenure: 2002 - 2004

Mr. Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, son of Late Prabhakar R. Naolekar, born on 29.06.1943 at Jabalpur, passed B.Com. in the year 1963 from Jabalpur University. Passed LL.B from Jabalpur University in the year 1965. Joined the Bar in December 1965 in the Chamber of Honble Mr. Justice A.P. Sen and later Honble Mr. Justice J.S. Verma, who later on, became the Judge/Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India. As an Advocate practiced in Civil, Criminal, Constitution, Company Labour & Service matters. Appointed Standing Counsel for Raipur University in 1983 and Standing Counsel of Madhya Pradesh High Court, Municipal Corporations and various Co-operative Societies in 1989. His father and grandfather were leading lawyers of MP High Court at Jabalpur. Belongs to third generation of Lawyers family. Functioned as Vice President of Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association from 1983 to 1989. Associated with Social Organisations, viz. Lions International Club, Sangeet Samaj, Educational Institutions. Interested in Classical Music and Sports. Elevated to Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court as Permanent Judge on 15.06.1992. Transferred to Rajasthan High Court on 28.04.1994. Appointed as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on 10.06.2002. On 28.7.2004 elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of India and retired on 29.06.2008.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice B. Sudershan Reddy
Tenure: 2005 - 2007

Born on 8th July, 1946 at Akula Mylaram Village, erstwhile Ibrahimpatnam Taluq, presently Kandukur Revenue Mandal, Rangareddy District of Andhra Pradesh, India in an agricultural family.Studied in Hyderabad and obtained Law degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad in the year 1971 and enrolled as an Advocate in 1971 itself. Thereafter joined the Chambers of Shri K. Pratap Reddy, Senior Advocate.

Dealt with various types of cases in City Civil Courts at Hyderabad as well as in High Court of Andhra Pradesh. Appointed as Government Pleader on 8th August, 1988 in High Court of Andhra Pradesh, In-charge of Revenue Department and continued up to 8th January, 1990. Thereafter appointed as an Additional Standing Counsel for Central government for a short period.

Was also Secretary and Correspondent for educational institutions being run by A.V. Education Society.Elected as President, Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates Association for the year 1993-94. Appointed as Legal Advisor and Standing Counsel for Osmania University, Hyderabad on 8th January, 1993. Appointed as Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh w.e.f. 2nd May, 1995. Appointed as Chief Justice for Gauhati High Court 05.12.2005.

Elevated as Judge, Supreme Court of India on 12.01.2007.

Retired from Supreme Court of India on 07.07.2011.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dr. Mukundakam Sharma
Tenure: 1994 - 1994

Born in Calcutta on 18th September, 1946. Matriculated from Don Bosco School, Guwahati; Pre-University education from Cotton College, Guwahati, B.A. from Ramjas College, Delhi and M.A. LLB degree, as well as Ph.D from Gauhati University. Enrolled as an Advocate under the Bar Council of Assam & Nagaland and practised in the Gauhati High Court. Panel Counsel for different Governments of North-Eastern States and also as the Standing Counsel for the State of Mizoram as well as the Indian Railways. Advocate General for the State of Mizoram from 28th April, 1988 to 7th February, 1989 and also for the State of Nagaland from April, 1992 to January, 1994. Associated with the Law Research Institute, Gauhati High Court in giving legal shape to the customary laws of the North Eastern Region. Was also a part time Lecturer (Evening Classes) in Law in Gauhati University from 1979 to 1990. Appointed as Judge of the Guwahati High Court and assumed office on 10th January, 1994. Transferred to Patna High Court and took oath on 14th February, 1994. Posted to Ranchi Bench and decided cases covering an extensive area of Commercial and Industrial Law. Subsequently during the same year transferred to the Delhi High Court and took oath of office on 12th December, 1994. Appointed as Acting Chief Justice on 28th November, 2006 and worked as such till 3rd December, 2006. Elevated as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on 4th December, 2006. Elevated as the Judge of Supreme Court of India on 9th April, 2008. Associated with the project undertaken by Asian Development Bank in collaboration with the Government of India, Justice Department on India - Administration of Justice. Was the Chairman of the Projects Monitoring committee and was a Member of the Steering Committee. Visited Pakistan during the course of the Pilot Project. Participated in the conference organised by World Intellectual Property Organisation in cooperation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, in Washington DC, USA. Was Chairman of Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee and in that capacity associated with various projects of providing legal aid and has also participated in many seminars on legal aid. Has been the Patron-in-Chief of Delhi Legal Services Authority. Invited to attend the prestigious 5th International Judges Conference from 19th-21st April, 2009 and delivered a speech on Developing Judicial Issues. Visited Chengdu (China) in 2009 for the 2009 International Conference on Judicial Protection of IPR in China and delivered lectures on the various fronts of IPR Protection. Appointed by the Honble Chief Justice of India as the Chairman of the North Eastern Regional Committee, that has been entrusted with the primary task of sensitizing the North Eastern Region on legal issues and to bring about an awareness about the rights and duties of every individual. Had been the Chancellor of National Law University, New Delhi in the capacity of being the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and has been appointed on the post of the Visitor, NLU Delhi. Retired on 17.09.2011.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ananga Kumar Patnaik
Tenure: 1994 - 2002

Born on 03.06.1949. He is son of late Shri Gopal Chandra Patnaik, a leading businessman with great repute in Orissa. He had his schooling at Rajkumar College, Raipur. He was awarded prize for the "Best All Round Conduct and Leadership" in School. He had higher education from Delhi University with Honours in Political Science and obtained Law Degree from Madhusudan Law College, Cuttack. He was selected by the Rotary Foundation in Group Study Exchange Programme in 1976 and went to New Jersey, U.S.A. for study of institutions of America and its people. He was enrolled with the State Bar Council of Orissa on 28.03.1974. He practiced in the High Court, Subordinate Courts and Tribunals in Orissa and also appeared many a times before the Supreme Court of India. He practiced in different branches of law with specialization in Commercial Law and Constitutional Law. He was the Standing Counsel for the Orissa State Road Transport Corporation from 02.05.1989 to 01.09.1990 and has been the Senior Standing Counsel for the Commercial Taxes Organization, Government of Orissa from 22.09.1990 to 12.01.1994. He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Orissa on 13.01.1994 and on transfer assumed charge as Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 07.02.1994. He became a permanent Judge of the Gauhati High Court in 1995. After rendering valuable services for eight years as a Judge in the Gauhati High Court, he again assumed charge as a Judge of Orissa High Court on 15.04.2002. He was the senior most Puisne Judge of the Orissa High Court and was the Executive Chairman of the Orissa State Legal Services Authority. He was also the Chairman of Orissa Judicial Academy. He was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh on 14.03.2005. On transfer, assumed charge as Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 02.10.2005. Appointed as Judge, Supreme Court of India, on 17.11.2009. He retired on 03.06.2014. Has been nominated by the Chief Justice of India as the Visitor of the National Law University, Orissa, and as the Visitor of the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. Has been conferred with the degree of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) by the Utkal University on 02.03.2012. Has been nominated by the Chief Justice of India as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. Has been nominated by the Chief Justice of India/President, Indian Law Institute, as the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Law and Allied Subjects for the project of the Indian Law Institute on Restatement of Indian Law. Retired on 02.06.2014.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi
Tenure: 2001 - 2010

Born on 18th November, 1954. He was enrolled as an Advocate on August 28, 1978 and practised for the last 21 years in the Gauhati High Court in Constitutional, Taxation and Company cases. He was appointed as Permanent Judge of Gauhati High Court on 28th February, 2001. Transferred to Punjab & Haryana High Court on 9th September, 2010. Appointed as Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court on 12th February, 2011. Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court on 23rd April, 2012. Appointed as the Chief Justice of India on 03.10.2018. Retired on 17.11.2019. He was nominated as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha on 16th March 2020, by the President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. On 19th March 2020, he took oath of office as a nominated Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Amitava Roy
Tenure: 2002 - 2013

Justice Amitava Roy was born on 1.3.1953 at Kolkata, West Bengal. He belongs to a family of lawyers. His father Late Anadi Bhushan Roy was a practicing Senior Advocate of repute at Dibrugarh in the State of Assam. His Father-in-Law, Late Salil Kumar Dutta had been a Judge of the Calcutta High Court. His brother-in-law, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipankar Dutta was a Judge of the Kolkata High Court. He did his education at Dibrugarh. After completing post graduation in Physics from the Dibrugarh University, he obtained his LL.B. degree from the same University in 1976.
Justice Amitava Roy was enrolled with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh on 20.02.1976. He had extensively practiced before the district courts in the Districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia from 1976 to 1981. He shifted his practice before the Gauhati High Court in 1981 and since then appeared before the Gauhati High Court, the Central Administrative Tribunal, Gauhati and the District Subordinate Courts at Gauhati. He practiced mainly on the Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Labour and Revenue side. He had also been the Senior Government Advocate of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in the Gauhati High Court from 1991 to 1996. He was a member of Assam Law Commission till his elevation. He was designated Senior Advocate by the High Court on 03.06.1999.He was elevated as a Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 04.02.2002 and was appointed as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court and took oath as such on 2.1.2013. Thereafter he was transferred and appointed as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court on 06.08.2014. On being elevated he took oath as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 27.02.2015.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jasti Chelameswar
Tenure: 2007 - 2010

Born on June 23, 1953 at Pedda Muttevi, Movya Mandal in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Had his earlier education upto Class XII at Hindu High School at Machilipatnam in Krishna District and Graduated in Science (Physics) at Madras Loyola College. Graduated in Law from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, in 1976. Designated as Senior Counsel in the year 1995. Appointed as Additional Advocate General on 13.10.1995.Elevated as Additional Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 23.06.1997 and as Judge w.e.f. 17.05.1999. Elevated as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court on 03.05.2007. Transferred to Kerala High Court and assumed charge as Chief Justice of Kerala on 17.03.2010. Elevated as Judge, Supreme Court of India on 10th October, 2011. Retired on 22.06.2018

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Madan Bhimarao Lokur
Tenure: 2010 - 2011

Born on 31st December, 1953.Studied in Modern School, New Delhi till 1968 and thereafter passed ISCE examination in 1970-71 from St. Josephs Collegiate, Allahabad. Graduated in History (Hons.) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University in 1974. Obtained LL.B. degree from Faculty of Law, Delhi University in 1977.
Enrolled as an Advocate on 28th July, 1977. Practiced in the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court. Qualified the examination and enrolled as an Advocate-on-Record in the Supreme Court in 1981.Has vast experience in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Revenue and Service laws.
Appointed as the Editor, ILR (Delhi Series) in February, 1983 and continued as such till elevation to the Delhi High Court. Central Government Standing Counsel from December, 1990 to December, 1996 during which period had handled all kinds of cases on behalf of the Central Government including criminal trials in respect of economic offences. Designated as Senior Advocate in February, 1997.
Appointed as Additional Solicitor General of India on 14th July, 1998 and continued as such till appointed as an Additional Judge of Delhi High Court on 19th February, 1999. Appointed as Permanent Judge of that High Court on 5th July, 1999. Functioned as the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court from 13th February, 2010 to 21st May, 2010.
Functioned as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court from 24th June, 2010 to 14th November, 2011 and Chief Justice of High Court of Andhra Pradesh from 15th November, 2011 to 3rd June, 2012.Appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court on 4th June, 2012.Interest in judicial reforms, computerization of courts, judicial education, legal aid and services, juvenile justice and ADR. Member of the Mediation & Conciliation Project Committee of the Supreme Court of India since its inception in 2005. Judge in charge of the E-Committee of the Supreme Court of India. Appointed as One Man Committee to suggest improvements in the working of the Homes and organization under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection and Children) Act, 2000 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules,2007. Retired on 30th December, 2018.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel
2011 - 2013

Born on July 7, 1953 at Hissar, Haryana, His Lordship did his B.A. (Hons.) and LL.B. from the Panjab University, Chandigarh. He was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana on July 16, 1974. He practised before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana for about five years and before the Supreme Court of India and Delhi High Court for about 22 years. He also worked as Standing Counsel and Addl. Advocate General for the State of U.P. in the Supreme Court and as Standing Counsel (Civil) for NCT Delhi in Delhi High Court. He practised in different fields of law: Civil, Criminal, Labour, Taxation, Constitutional Law. Designated as Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court with effect from February 11, 1999. His Lordship was elevated as Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court with effect from July 2, 2001. Appointed Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services Authority on 17.05.2005. His Lordship was the Chief Justice (Acting) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court from 02.05.2011 till he joined as the senior most Judge of the Gauhati High Court on 12.09.2011. Sworn in as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on 20th December, 2011.

Transferred to Orissa High Court as Chief Justice on 11.10.2013.

Elevated as Judge of Supreme Court and assumed charge on July 7, 2014.

Retired on 06.07.2018. He also served as the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre
Tenure: 2013 - 2014

Born on 28th August, 1954, at Jabalpur. Studied in Model High School, Jabalpur. Graduated in Bachelor of Arts from Government Arts College, Jabalpur.
Obtained LL.B. degree from University Teaching Department (VTD) Jabalpur, University of Jabalpur.
Enrolled as Advocate on 21st January, 1978, in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh. Practised in Civil, Constitutional, Taxation, Company Law and Labour Laws and was a standing counsel for Income Tax Department, in Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Appointed as Additional Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on 25th October, 1999 and as Permanent Judge on 24th October, 2001.
Transferred to Rajasthan High Court and assumed charge at the Principal Seat, Jodhpur on 11th February, 2010.
Functioned as Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court from 23rd April, 2012.
Elevated as the first Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur on 23 rd March 2013. Sworn in as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court 19th October, 2013.

Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court and assumed charge on August 13, 2014. Retired on August 27, 2019.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice A. S. Bopanna
Tenure: 2018 - 2019

Born on 20-05-1959. Enrolled as an Advocate on 21-11-1984 and practised Civil, Constitutional, Company, Service and Labour matters in the High Court as well as in the Civil and Labour Courts. Worked as Legal Advisor to all Central Public Sector Undertakings and worked as Addl. Central Govt. Standing Counsel from 1999 onwards till 2005. Appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on 06-01-2006 and permanent judge on 01.03.2007.

Appointed as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on 29/10/2018.

Elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court and assumed charge on May 24, 2019. He was retired on May 19, 2024.

THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT

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