Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The oath of office was administered by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, who is also discharging the duties of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir. The Central Government had officially notified Justice Bhati’s appointment on September 5, following a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium in August. Justice Bhati previously served as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court before his elevation. The ceremony took place at the Shalimar auditorium of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Kashmir.
The appointment of Justice Bhati, made under Article 217 of the Constitution, places him at the head of the high court that has jurisdiction over the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. His elevation to this significant judicial post marks a key development in the region’s higher judiciary. Justice Bhati’s legal career includes extensive practice at the Rajasthan High Court, predominantly in writ jurisdiction. His areas of expertise encompassed service laws, public interest litigation, election matters, revenue, mining, education, Panchayati Raj, family, and criminal law.
Before his elevation to the Bench as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court on November 16, 2016, Justice Bhati held several important positions. He served as the Additional Advocate General for Rajasthan for two separate tenures. He also represented various government departments and institutions, including the Labour Department (Government of Rajasthan), Ayurved Department (Government of Rajasthan), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation. Additionally, he served as Standing Counsel for Indian Railways for 16 years and represented other entities such as the Reserve Bank of India and Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, cabinet ministers, High Court judges, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, and other senior civil and police officers. The proceedings commenced with the rendition of the national song and the National Anthem, followed by the reading of the warrant of appointment by the Registrar General of the High Court. Justice Bhati and Lieutenant Governor Saxena signed the oath roll papers, after which the Lieutenant Governor presented the warrant of appointment to the new Chief Justice. The ceremony concluded with the national song and the National Anthem.
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