Justice P Sathasivam will replace Altamas Kabir as the new chief justice of India when the latter steps down on July 19, 2013. A formal notification to this effect is expected anytime soon from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sathasivam, who was elevated to the top court on August 21, 2007, will, however, hold a very short stint in office because he is scheduled to retire on April 26, 2014 — which gives him less than a year at the helm.

He will be India's 40th chief justice. Sathasivam has delivered several key judgements as a judge, including the 1993 Bombay blasts case in which he sent back actor Sanjay Dutt back to jail to complete his five-year jail term for illegal possession of arms in the run-up to the blasts. (Economic Times)