 Earlier, justice Bhagwandas had also served as acting Chief Justice – first in 2005 while Chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was on a ten-day trip to the People's Republic of China and then again in December 2006 when the latter was on a Haj pilgrimage.He was the first Hindu and the third non-Muslim (after A. R. Cornelius and Dorab Patel) to serve in this post.On 8 February 2005 Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas was honoured with "Siropa" (robe of honour) during his maiden visit to Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, India.