New Chief Justice Sworn In for J&K and Ladakh High Court

Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, administered the oath of office to Justice Bhati. Saxena is currently holding the additional charge of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir during the absence of incumbent Manoj Sinha, who is on leave and reportedly in the United States. The appointment of Justice Bhati as Chief Justice was officially notified on September 5, following a recommendation from the Supreme Court collegium. He succeeds Justice Sanjeev Kumar, who had been serving as the acting Chief Justice since June 2. The ceremony, held in Srinagar, was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other judicial officials. The swearing-in ceremony has been described by one report as a significant departure from convention, marking a historic moment for the judicial administration of the two Union Territories. This characterization stems from the fact that the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, rather than his Jammu and Kashmir counterpart, administered the oath, a role traditionally held by the JK Lieutenant Governor.