Srinagar, Mar 21: The President of India Thursday appointed Muhammad Yousuf Wani as Additional Judge of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for two years.
“In exercise of the power conferred by Clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Muhammad Yousuf Wani, to be an Additional Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, for two years with effect from the date he assumes the charge of his office,” reads a notification issued by Ministry of Law and Justice Department of Justice (Appointments Division) Government of India.
The Supreme Court Collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on March 12 had recommended Judicial Officer Wani’s name as the Judge of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh.
On September 21, last year the Chief Justice of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues recommended the appointment of Wani as an Additional Judge of the High Court.
“To ascertain the suitability of the candidate for elevation to the High Court, we have consulted Judges of the Supreme Court who are conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,” the SC Collegium had said.
To assess the merit and suitability of the candidate for elevation to the High Court, the Collegium is said to have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record.
“We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file,” the Collegium said. “The inputs placed by the government in the file indicate that he enjoys a good personal and professional image. Nothing adverse has come to notice about his integrity.”
The Annual Confidential Reports of the officer are consistently of a high order, it said.
“The consultee-judges have concurrently given a positive opinion about his suitability for appointment as a Judge of the High Court,” the Collegium said. “Having regard to the material on record and all relevant factors, the Collegium is of the considered view that Muhammad Yousuf Wani is fit and suitable for being appointed as a Judge of the High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.”
Born on April 24, 1966, at Brinty Batapora, Dialgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Wani did his graduation from Government Degree College Boys Anantnag following which he pursued his LLB from the University of Kashmir.
Subsequently, he joined judicial service on December 9, 1997, and served as a judicial officer in various capacities.
Before this, he practised at the Bar for over three years.