Chief Justice Gita Mittal today administered oath of officeto three newly appointed judges of the common High Court for the UnionTerritories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Justices Vinod Chatterji Koul, Sanjay Dhar and Puneet Guptawere sworn in as permanent judges in a simple but impressive ceremony in ChiefJustice’s Court at Jammu wing of the High Court, an official handout said.
On account of guidelines with regard to measures forcontainment of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the sitting judges of the HighCourt of J&K joined the oath ceremony through video conference whilesitting in their respective residences at Jammu, Chandigarh and Srinagar.
The oath ceremony was live streamed on internet throughwebcast also, the statement said.
Advocate General, Assistant Solicitor General of India ofboth the wings of the High Court, President HC Bar Association Jammu, SecretaryLaw, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs UT of J&K also joined the oath ceremonythrough video linkage.
Warrants of appointment of the three judges were read byRegistrar General (Officiating) High Court of J&K Jawad Ahmed in Englishand Hindi.
Meanwhile, the sitting judges of J&K High Courtcongratulated the newly appointed judges immediately after the oath ceremony.
Advocate General, ASGI Jammu and Srinagar, Secretary LawJustice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, PresidentHigh Court Bar Association Jammu also congratulated the newly appointed judgesand conveyed their best wishes.
With the appointment of three more judges, the strength ofJ&K High Court has increased from nine to twelve. The J&K High Court has sanctionedstrength of 17 judges including 13 permanent judges and 4 additional judges.
Prior to their appointment as judges, Justice VinodChatterje Koul was posted as Chairman, Sales Tax Tribunal, Justice Sanjay Dharwas Registrar General of the J&K High Court and Justice Puneet Gupta wasdischarging his judicial duties as Member, Special Tribunal, Jammu.