"Great Men with Honesty,Integrity and Deep Inner Conscience,Would Be Unassailable Even In The Most Difficult and Challenging Times"

Mr.Justice Chockalingam Nagappan was born on 4.10.1951 as the eldest son of late V.N.Chockalingam,Industrialist of Karur. His lordship completed his school education at Municipal High School, Karur and He did his Pre-University Course in St.Joseph's College, Trichy and completed his B.Sc. Degree in Chemistry at Madura College, Madurai. His lordship then studied Law Course in Madras Law College and secured THIRD Rank in the Final University Examination in April, 1974. He studied M.L. Course in Criminal Law and secured FIRST Rank in the Madras University in 1977.His lordship was perhaps one among the outstanding students of law during that time. His lordship enrolled as an advocate on 7.8.1974 and joined the chambers of Sri.K.Parasaran, former attorney general of India. His lordship as a part-time professor for seven years at Madras Law college was popular and liked by one and all.

After a decade long stint at the bar, destiny paved way for His lordship to join the subordinate judiciary and His lordship was directly recruited as District judge in 1987 and worked as District and sessions judge at Cuddalore, Salem and Coimbatore. He had a great training and guidance from stalwarts among the district judges like Sri P.Gomathinayagam. He then took charge as the Special officer, Vigilance cell, Madras high court. As Special officer of Madras high court, His lordship was instrumental in imparting training to the directly recruited district munsifs under the guidance of the then chief justice. His lordship later worked as chairman for the state transport appellate tribunal, Chennai.

After two and a half decades of remarkable and unblemished service in the subordinate judiciary, His lordship was elevated as judge of our prestigious Madras High Court on 27.9.2000 and appointed as a permanent judge on 20.09.2002 and further elevated as the Chief Justice of the Orissa high court and sworn in on 27.02 2013.

He was appointed as a Judge of The Supreme Court of India and sworn in on 19.09.2013.

His association with the institution spans over a period of about 39 years. It is either by coincidence or by divine providence that his professional career spanning a period of about 39 years is divided equally into three stages:

First as an advocate for a period of 13 years from 1974 to 1987

Second as a district judge for a period of 13 years from 1987 to 2000

Third as a judge of the Madras high court for the last 13 years from 2000 to 2013.

"Honesty, Sincerity, Integrity, Dedication, Commitment and Hard Work" would take a person to greatest and monumental heights in life. I am proud to be his son.