Justice Mishra sworn in as HC judge despite Punjab protest

Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court here on Monday, a day after the Mann govt objected to his appointment and urged the Centre to stop oath-taking ceremony.

Justice Mishra (57), who had been functioning as the acting chief justice of the high court since June, was administered oath by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at the Lok Bhavan. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Akali MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia and Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha.

However, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not present at the ceremony.

In July last year, Justice Mishra was transferred from the Allahabad High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He assumed charge as Acting Chief Justice of the high court here on June 1 this year, following the elevation of Justice Sheel Nagu to the Supreme Court. The Centre notified Justice Mishra’s appointment on Saturday, about a month after Supreme Court Collegium had recommended his elevation.

On Sunday, the Mann government convened an emergency meeting of the cabinet against the Centre’s decision. The state cabinet passed a resolution, asking the Centre not to move forward with the administration of oath to Justice Mishra till the state government’s concerns are adequately addressed.

The Mann government claimed that appointment of Mishra as chief justice of the high court was done without awaiting state govt’s views bypassing Constitutional norms and set procedures.