Retired Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, has taken charge as the first President of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) in India. The GSTAT was established under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act and is expected to become operational after 7 years of the incorporation of the GST regime. The appointment of judicial and technical members for the GSTAT is currently in progress. The tribunal aims to provide swift and fair resolution to GST disputes and reduce the burden on higher courts. The establishment of the GSTAT is expected to improve the effectiveness of the GST system in India and promote a more transparent and effective tax environment in the country [b8b0c9f0].
Justice Mishra has been appointed for a period of four years or until he attains the age of seventy. He is required to take charge within 30 days from the date of the order. Justice Mishra has previously served as a judge in Orissa High Court and Uttarakhand High Court. He completed his LLB from Delhi University in 1987 and began his legal practice in Odisha. He has held various positions including Additional District and Sessions Judge, District and Sessions Judge, Special CBI Judge, and Registrar of Orissa High Court. He became the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court in 2023 [118217a4].
Justice UL Bhat, former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court, passed away on June 6, 2024, in New Delhi. He was born in 1933 in Ullal Village, near Mangalore. Bhat studied in Vazianagarm, Andhra Pradesh, completed his law degree from Madras College in 1954, and was enrolled as an advocate before the Chief Justices Bench in Madras High Court in 1955. He served as a judge in various courts, including the Kerala High Court, Gauhati High Court, and Madhya Pradesh High Court. After retirement, he was appointed as President of the Customs, Excise, and Gold Control Appellate Tribunal. Bhat was known for passing landmark judgments and was active in continuing education for members of the judiciary. He was a pioneer of Lok Adalat in the North Eastern Region. His death was mourned by the legal fraternity [29ad2ed6].