Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal today administered oath of office to three newly appointed Judges of the common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Puneet Gupta were sworn in as permanent Judges in a simple but impressive ceremony in Chief Justice’s Court at Jammu wing of the High Court.On account of guidelines with regard to measures for containment of COVID-19 pandemic in the country issued by the Government of India and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and in order to avoid gathering as well as to maintain social distancing, the sitting Judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir joined the oath ceremony through Video Conference. The oath ceremony was live streamed on internet through webcast also.The ceremony was attended by sitting Judges of the High Court through video conferencing while sitting in their respective residences at Jammu, Chandigarh and Srinagar. Advocate General, Assistant Solicitor General of India of both the wings of the High Court, President Bar Association, High Court of J&K, Jammu, Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs UT of J&K also joined the oath ceremony through Video Linkage.Warrants of appointment of Judges were read by Registrar General (Officiating) High Court of Jammu and Kashmir Jawad Ahmed in English and Hindi.
All the Sitting Judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir who participated in the oath ceremony through Video link congratulated the newly appointed Judges immediately after the oath ceremony. Advocate General, ASGI Jammu and Srinagar, Secretary Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, President High Court Bar Association Jammu also congratulated the newly appointed Judges and conveyed their best wishes.With the appointment of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Puneet Gupta as Judges of the High Court, the strength of J&K High Court increased from nine to twelve. The J&K High Court has sanctioned strength of 17 Judges including 13 Permanent Judges and 4 Additional Judges.Prior to their appointment as Judges of the High Court, Justice Vinod Chatterje Koul was posted as Chairman, Sales Tax Tribunal while as Justice Sanjay Dhar was Registrar General of the J&K High Court and Justice Puneet Gupta was discharging his judicial duties as Member, Special Tribunal, Jammu.