Justice Rana Bhagwandas was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Friday, reports Online news agency.

He was sworn in at a simple ceremony at the Supreme Court's registry branch in Karachi by Justice Syed Syed Ashad.

Justice Bhagwandas will officiate in the absence of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who is going to China on a 10-day visit. Justice Bhagwandas is the senior most judge in the Supreme Court.

He is well respected in the community for his extraordinary grip on constitutional law. He is a career judge, having worked as a sessions judge and later as judge of the Sindh High Court.

Born on December 20, 1942, into a Hindu family in Sindh, Justice Bhagwandas joined the Pakistan judicial service in July 1967.

Besides graduation in law, Justice Bhagwandas has done his masters in Islamic Studies.

Justice Bhagwandas is the second non-Muslim judge in Pakistan to reach the top position in the judiciary. Justice A.R. Cornelius, a Christian, had served as the chief justice from 1960-68.

Some years back when Justice Bhagwandas' position as judge of a high court was challenged for being a non-Muslim, a large number of lawyers protested against the petitioner.

He was promoted to the Supreme Court in 2000 and will retire as a senior judge in December 2007 after attaining the age of 65.

However, he may not become permanent chief justice, as Justice Chaudhry would be retiring in December 2013, six years after Justice Bhagwandas' retirement.