The Orissa High Court held a Full Court reference on Friday, September 11, 2026, to bid farewell to Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak upon his transfer to the Gujarat High Court. The meeting was chaired by Chief Justice Harish Tandon and attended by all judges of the court, members of the Bar, and registry officials.
Chief Justice Harish Tandon expressed gratitude to Justice Pathak for his contributions on both judicial and administrative fronts during his 13-month tenure at the Orissa High Court. He praised the outgoing judge’s affability, judicial acumen, hospitality, and polite behaviour. He remarked that Justice Pathak’s departure was a loss for the Orissa High Court but a gain for the Gujarat High Court.
Advocate General Pitambar Acharya regretted that Justice Pathak, being the senior-most judge of the court, was transferred before he could assume the role of Chief Justice following the incumbent chief justice’s retirement in November 2026. Acharya noted that Justice Pathak was likely to have been elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court upon the retirement of the current chief justice.
Prasanna Kumar Parhi, Deputy Solicitor General of India, and Lalatendu Samantaray, President of the Orissa High Court Bar Association, also spoke on the occasion, commending Justice Pathak’s significant contributions despite his brief tenure in Cuttack.
Justice Pathak, speaking at the end of the proceedings, expressed deep gratitude to the legal fraternity of Odisha for their warm acceptance during his time at the court. He said, “Now that I am being transferred from this Court, I cannot stop myself of having the feeling that I should have been posted here years ago. The warmth, love and affection I have received from each one of you in Odisha will remain an unforgettable part of my journey and I will carry it with me wherever I go.”
He thanked Chief Justice Harish Tandon and his companion judges for their cooperation in the successful discharge of his duties, stating they ensured he never felt like an outsider in Odisha. He considered himself fortunate to have served as a judge of a court with a rich historical legacy.
Justice Pathak expressed gratitude to the registry and staff, describing them as the “backbone” of the judicial system. He said, “Today I move from this land of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath to the land of Lord Krishna to carry out the command of the Almighty and to serve the purpose for which I joined this institution. But wherever I go, a part of me always remains here in these courtrooms and corridors.”
Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak was born on August 28, 1965, in Guwahati. He completed his schooling in Guwahati, graduated in Arts from St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, and obtained his LL.B. from Government Law College, Panbazar, Guwahati, under Gauhati University. He was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh on September 12, 1990.
He primarily practised civil, constitutional, land acquisition, and service matters. He served as Standing Counsel for the State of Tripura from 2004 until the bifurcation of the Gauhati High Court and was a member of the Law Commission of Assam and the Indian Law Institute until his elevation to the bench.
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court on May 22, 2013, and sworn in as a permanent judge with effect from November 12, 2018. He was transferred to the Orissa High Court and sworn in on July 21, 2025.
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer to the Gujarat High Court on August 6, 2026. The Central Government notified the transfer shortly thereafter. Justice Pathak is due to retire on August 27, 2027.
With his transfer, the working strength of the Orissa High Court has decreased to 15 judges against a sanctioned strength of 33, marking a historic low in judicial strength for the court.