In a significant development, the Ministry of Law and Justice has officially notified the elevation of 11 additional judges as permanent judges in the esteemed Punjab and Haryana High Court. This notification comes after the Supreme Court collegium, comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sanjiv Khanna, recommended their appointments as permanent judges.
The 11 judges who have been elevated to the position of permanent judges are Justices Nidhi Gupta, Sanjay Vashisth, Tribhuvan Dahiya, Namit Kumar, Harkesh Manuja, Aman Chaudhary, Naresh Singh, Harsh Bunger, Jagmohan Bansal, Deepak Manchanda, and Alok Jain. These legal luminaries have been serving in the Punjab and Haryana High Courts and have demonstrated their competence and dedication to the judiciary.
The notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice stated, "In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, the President of India, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint 11 additional judges as permanent judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court."
Minister of Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, extended his heartfelt best wishes to the newly appointed permanent judges. This elevation is a recognition of their commitment to upholding justice and the rule of law in the region.
The process leading to this elevation began when, on May 20, 2023, the collegium of the Punjab and Haryana High Court unanimously recommended the names of these additional judges for permanent positions. Importantly, the Chief Ministers and Governors of both Punjab and Haryana concurred with this recommendation, reflecting the widespread support for these judicial appointments.
In line with the established procedure, the judges of the Supreme Court who are knowledgeable about the affairs of the Punjab and Haryana High Court were consulted to assess the suitability of the recommended judges for permanent positions. Their collective expertise and wisdom contributed to the decision-making process.
The Supreme Court's resolution emphasized the rigorous evaluation undertaken in this matter. It stated, "With a view to assessing the merit and suitability of the above additional judges for appointment as permanent judges, we have scrutinized the material placed on record, including the opinion of the consultee-judges and the report of the judgment evaluation committee."
This elevation of 11 judges as permanent judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court signifies a crucial step in ensuring a robust and efficient judicial system in the region. These judges bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise, and their appointment is a testament to their dedication to upholding justice and the rule of law.
