Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra Punjab Haryana Chief Justice Sworn In

• Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.
• The Punjab government opposed his elevation, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann notably absent from the oath ceremony.
• The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Mishra's elevation on August 6, with the Central government notifying it on September 5.
• The Punjab cabinet passed a resolution urging the Governor not to administer the oath until the state government had provided its consent.
• Justice Mishra previously served as Acting Chief Justice since June and was a judge of the Allahabad High Court since February 2014.

The absence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann from the Ashwani Kumar Mishra Chief Justice swearing-in ceremony served as a clear visual manifestation of the Punjab government opposition Justice Mishra.

Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra has officially assumed the role of Chief Justice for the Punjab and Haryana High Court, taking his oath of office on Monday morning. The ceremony, conducted by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, marked a significant leadership transition for the regional judiciary. Notably, while Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh were in attendance, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was conspicuously absent from the proceedings.

The journey to Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra's appointment as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court involved a specific procedural timeline. The Supreme Court Collegium initially put forward its recommendation for his elevation on August 6. Following this, the Central government formally approved and notified Justice Mishra’s appointment as the Chief Justice on September 5. Prior to this, Justice Mishra had been serving as the Acting Chief Justice since June and had been a judge of the Allahabad High Court since February 2014, subsequently being posted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2025.

However, the Punjab government articulated its opposition to this elevation, stating on Sunday that the Central government should have awaited its response regarding Justice Mishra's suitability before issuing the notification. This sentiment escalated into a formal protest when, a day after the Central government's notification, the Punjab cabinet convened an emergency meeting. During this meeting, a resolution was passed explicitly opposing Justice Mishra's elevation. The resolution specifically implored Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to refrain from administering the oath until the state government had provided its consent for the appointment, taking serious exception to the process.

The absence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann from the Ashwani Kumar Mishra Chief Justice swearing-in ceremony served as a clear visual manifestation of the Punjab government opposition Justice Mishra. This decision by the Punjab CM skips Chief Justice oath, contrasting sharply with the presence of his Haryana counterpart, highlighted the political friction surrounding the Punjab Haryana High Court Chief Justice appointment. The state government's insistence that its consent was necessary before the Central government could notify the appointment points to a fundamental disagreement over the established protocols for judicial elevations.

This situation underscores the delicate balance between the executive and the judiciary, particularly in the context of high-profile appointments. For lawyers practicing in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, the administrative and procedural implications of a new Chief Justice are significant, but the political backdrop of this particular appointment also warrants attention. The circumstances surrounding Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra's elevation could potentially influence future interactions and relations between the state executive and the High Court, making it a crucial development for legal professionals in the region to observe.

Lawyers practicing in the Punjab & Haryana High Court should note the appointment of the new Chief Justice for administrative and procedural awareness, and be cognizant of the political context surrounding his elevation, which may influence future executive-judiciary relations in the region.

Source: Based on recent news reports.