In a significant development, two senior-most Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court have been transferred. The first puisne or the senior-most Judge, Justice SK Mittal, goes to the Rajasthan High Court as Chief Justice. Justice Hemant Gupta goes to the Patna High Court as the first puisne and is expected to take over as Chief Justice there.
Justice Gupta is the second senior-most Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and is at number three position after Acting Chief Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar and Justice Mittal.
These are the first transfers after the restoration of the collegium system following the striking down of the National Judicial Appointments Commission.
The development is significant as the transfers of two of the senior-most Judges will change the constitution of the Punjab and Haryana High Court collegium. Justice SS Saron will now be a part of the collegium. Justice Mittal’s elevation as Chief Justice was long due.
