Bhupinder Nath Kirpal (B. N. Kirpal) (born 8 November 1937) was the 31st Chief Justice of India, serving from 6 May 2002 until his retirement on 7 November 2002.

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Quick Facts 31st Chief Justice of India, Appointed by ...

Bhupinder Nath Kirpal
31st Chief Justice of India
In office 6 May 2002 – 8 November 2002
Appointed by	K. R. Narayanan
Preceded by	Sam Piroj Bharucha
Succeeded by	Gopal Ballav Pattanaik
Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court
In office 1989–1992
Personal details
Born	(1937-11-08) 8 November 1937 (age 86)
Children	Saurabh Kirpal Senior Advocate Delhi High Court

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His father, Amar Nath Kirpal, was a lawyer.^[1] He is an alumnus of The Modern School, New Delhi and St Stephens College, Delhi University.^[1] A top cricketer, he represented both his school and college.

He began his legal career as an advocate in 1962 and was appointed a Judge of Delhi High Court in November 1979. In December 1993, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.

In September 1995, he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India and became Chief Justice of India in May 2002.

After retirement as the Chief Justice of India, he was appointed the 1st Chairman of the National Forest Commission on 21 February 2003. ^[2]

He was born in Lahore but shifted to Delhi after partition.^{[citation needed]} He was married to late Aruna Kirpal (née Sachdev) and has three children. His son, Mr. Saurabh Kirpal, Senior Advocate of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court, was on 11 November 2021 approved by the collegium of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India to be elevated as a Judge of the Delhi High Court. ^[3]