The Central government on Monday approved the appointment of three additional judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court as permanent judges. The judges elevated to permanent positions are:
- Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal;
- Justice Rajesh Sekhri; and
- Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani.
The Supreme Court Collegium had earlier recommended their appointments on March 5, and the Central government has now cleared all three names.
About the Judges
Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal
Justice Nargal holds the distinction of being the first Muslim judge from the Jammu region to serve in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He was recommended for judgeship by the High Court Collegium in August 2017, and his appointment was approved by the Supreme Court Collegium in April 2018. He was appointed as an additional judge on June 1, 2022, and took oath on June 3, 2022.
Justice Rajesh Sekhri
Justice Sekhri was sworn in as an additional judge of the High Court on July 29, 2024. He earned his LLB from the Faculty of Law, University of Jammu, in 1989 and began his judicial career as a Munsiff judge in 1995. Over the years, he served as a Sub Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate in Rajouri and Kargil, and was promoted to District and Sessions Judge in 2008. He held several key judicial positions and was serving as a Judicial Member of the J&K Special Tribunal in Jammu at the time of his elevation to the High Court.
Justice Mohammad Yousuf Wani
Justice Wani began his legal career in 1990 and was appointed as a Munsiff in December 1997. He was elevated to Sub Judge in 2000 and later to District & Sessions Judge in 2008. He has served in various significant judicial roles, including as a Judicial Member of the J&K Special Tribunal in Srinagar. His appointment as an additional judge of the High Court was notified on March 21, 2024.
Current Status of the High Court
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has a sanctioned strength of 25 judges. With the appointment of these three judges, the court is now functioning with 15 judges, leaving 10 positions vacant.
The elevation of these judges marks a significant step in strengthening the judiciary in the region, ensuring continuity and stability in the administration of justice.