Justice Bhati Assumes Charge as Chief Justice of J&K, Ladakh High Court
Saxena is currently holding additional charge as LG of Jammu and Kashmir as incumbent Manoj Sinha is on leave
SRINAGAR: Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was formally sworn in as the 39th Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at a dignified ceremony held here on Wednesday. The oath of office was administered by Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, who currently holds additional charge of the Union Territory of J&K.
The ceremony drew an exceptional gathering of constitutional authorities, senior members of the judiciary, and distinguished representatives from public life. In attendance were the Chief Minister of J&K, Judges of the High Court along with their spouses, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, and the Advisor to the Chief Minister.
A notable feature of the occasion was the strong representation from High Courts across India. Several sitting and former Chief Justices and Judges travelled from Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Allahabad to witness the swearing-in. The presence of Dr. Justice Nupur Bhati, Judge of the Rajasthan High Court and spouse of the Chief Justice, along with his parents, close relatives, and extended family, lent a deeply personal and memorable dimension to the ceremony.
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice had issued the notification appointing Justice Bhati as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on September 5, marking a significant milestone in his judicial career.
Born on September 21, 1970, Justice Bhati enrolled as an Advocate in 1992 and built a distinguished practice primarily before the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur. His legal expertise spans a wide spectrum of subjects, including constitutional and writ matters, service law, public interest litigation, election disputes, revenue and mining issues, education, Panchayati Raj, family law, and criminal jurisprudence. Before his elevation to the Bench on November 16, 2016, he served as Additional Advocate General for the State of Rajasthan during two separate terms—first from October 13 to December 29, 2008, and again beginning January 6, 2014.
