In a significant judicial appointment, the Central government announced on Wednesday that Justice Sanjeev Kumar will serve as the acting Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, starting April 10, 2025. This appointment follows the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Justice Tashi Rabistan, effective today.
The Union Law Ministry released a notification stating, “In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from 10.04.2025 consequent upon the retirement of Shri Justice Tashi Rabastan, Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on 09.04.2025.”
Justice Kumar, born on April 8, 1966, in Kathua district, is a seasoned jurist with a law degree from the University of Jammu earned in 1988. He enrolled as an advocate the following year and quickly made a name for himself, specializing in cases before the High Court. Before his elevation to the bench in June 2017, he had authored over two hundred reported judgments, contributing significantly to legal precedents in the region.
In a related development, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna, has recommended Justice Arun Palli of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the position of Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. This recommendation was made during a Collegium meeting on April 4, 2025.
The Collegium’s statement read, “The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 4th April, 2025, has recommended the appointment of Mr. Justice Arun Palli, Judge, High Court of Punjab & Haryana, as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.” However, this recommendation is still pending approval from the Union government.
