In a significant judicial appointment, the Central government has announced Justice A Muhamed Mustaque as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, effective July 5, 2024. This announcement follows the upcoming retirement of the current Chief Justice, AJ Desai, scheduled for July 4, 2024.
Justice Mustaque, currently the senior-most judge at the Kerala High Court, has been designated to assume the responsibilities of Chief Justice. The Ministry of Law and Justice released an official notification stating, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Muhamed Mustaque Ayumantakath, Judge of the Kerala High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court.”
Born on June 1, 1967, in Kannur, Justice Mustaque’s legal education includes an LLB from VB College of Law, Udupi, and an LLM specializing in Labour Law from MG University. His distinguished legal career began with his enrollment as a lawyer in 1989, primarily practicing in Kannur before elevating to the bench.
Beyond his judicial responsibilities, Justice Mustaque has a rich background in academia and international law. He holds a Master 2 in Space and Telecommunication Law from Paris XI University and has completed several advanced courses, including private international law at the Hague Academy of International Law and E-Commerce and Intellectual Property from WIPO. He is a trained mediator and has served as a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation.
Also Read
Justice Mustaque has also engaged extensively in editorial and administrative roles, notably as the Managing Editor of the online legal newsletter L.I.N.K., published from Luxembourg, and as a Secretary of the Mediators’ Council of India. His contributions to international law are underscored by his membership in the International Institute of Space Law and the Indian Society of International Law.
