Justice Arun Palli was on Wednesday sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. The oath of office was administered by Lieutenant-Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha at a solemn ceremony held at the Convention Centre in Jammu.
The event was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Judges of the High Court, members of the subordinate judiciary, and other dignitaries. Also present on the occasion was the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice GS Sandhawalia.
Several Judges—both sitting and retired—from Justice Palli’s parent High Court of Punjab and Haryana were in attendance, alongside members of the Bar, friends, and family.
Justice Palli’s elevation comes following the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation earlier this month. He succeeds in the role with a reputation for judicial clarity, intellectual rigour, and a deep commitment to constitutional values.
Justice Arun Palli was appointed as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 28, 2013. Over the past decade, he has adjudicated complex matters spanning constitutional, civil, arbitration, and intellectual property law, with decisions noted for their coherence, sensitivity, and precision.
Since May 2023, he had been serving as the Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority. In October 2023, he was also nominated to the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority, underlining his focus on legal outreach and access to justice.
Prior to his elevation to the bench, Justice Palli had a distinguished career at the Bar. He was designated Senior Advocate in 2007 and served as Additional Advocate-General for Punjab from 2004 to 2007. His legal acumen saw him appointed as amicus curiae in numerous constitutional matters before the High Court.
Born on September 18, 1964, Justice Palli hails from a family steeped in the legal tradition. His father, Justice (Retd) Prem Kishan Palli, served as a Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Justice Arun Palli obtained his law degree from Panjab University in 1988 and established a wide-ranging legal practice before joining the judiciary.
