Justice M. Sundar was sworn in as the tenth Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court on Monday, September 15, 2025. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal, where Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office.

Justice Sundar's appointment follows the retirement of Justice Kempaiah Somashekar on September 14, 2025. The President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Sundar to the position on September 13, 2025. The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Justice Sundar's name on September 11, 2025.

Born in Chennai on July 19, 1966, Justice Sundar has a strong background in law. He is an alumnus of Madras Law College, where he was part of the first batch of the five-year integrated law course. He enrolled as an advocate in 1989 and practiced primarily before the Madras High Court, handling a wide range of civil cases. He also served as Standing Counsel for the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board from 2003 to 2006. Justice Sundar was elevated as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court on October 5, 2016.

Prior to this appointment, Justice Sundar was serving as the second senior-most judge of the Madras High Court. He has authored several significant judgments, contributing to the development of law. Justice Sundar's background in civil law and his experience at the Madras High Court are expected to be valuable assets to the Manipur High Court.

The Manipur High Court was established in March 2013, along with the High Courts of Meghalaya and Tripura. Before that, all northeastern states except Sikkim fell under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court. Justice Sundar is one of several judges from the Madras High Court who have gone on to serve as Chief Justices of the Manipur High Court, following in the footsteps of Justices Ramalingam Sudhakar, MV Muralidharan, and D Krishna Kumar.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several political leaders, high court judges, senior state government officials, and representatives of bar associations. The presence of these dignitaries underscores the importance of the occasion and the high expectations for Justice Sundar's tenure as Chief Justice. With his appointment, the Manipur High Court gains a new leader during a time when the judiciary plays a vital role in upholding justice and ensuring accountability within the state.