Himachal Pradesh High Court Welcomes Three New Judges

New Appointments at Himachal Pradesh High Court

Munish Sood
Shimla

On Sunday, the Himachal Pradesh High Court expanded its Bench with the addition of three senior judicial officers: Chirag Bhanu Singh, Bhupesh Sharma, and Yogesh Jaswal. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan.

Chirag Bhanu Singh was appointed as a Judge of the High Court, while Bhupesh Sharma and Yogesh Jaswal took their oaths as Additional Judges. The oath was administered by Governor Kavinder Gupta, with Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia also present.

The Union Ministry of Law and Justice officially announced these appointments on August 27, following the Supreme Court Collegium's approval. The inclusion of these seasoned judicial officers is anticipated to enhance the High Court's capacity and effectiveness.

All three appointees bring a wealth of experience from their previous roles in the district judiciary, trial courts, and judicial administration.

Chirag Bhanu Singh: A Journey from Mandi to the High Court

Chirag Bhanu Singh, originally from Mandi district, has a robust background in both judicial and administrative roles.

Born on December 18, 1970, Singh graduated from Vallabh Post Graduate College in Mandi and earned his law degree from Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla. He began his legal career in 1994, practicing various legal matters before entering the judicial service.

Throughout his career, Singh has held several significant positions, including Additional District and Sessions Judge, and Judge of the Himachal Pradesh Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court. He has also served as District and Sessions Judge.

In addition to his judicial roles, Singh has undertaken important administrative duties, such as Legal Remembrancer-cum-Principal Secretary (Law) for the Himachal Pradesh Government, and has worked with the Lokayukta and Human Rights Commission.

He has twice served as Registrar (Judicial-I) at the Supreme Court of India and was most recently the District and Sessions Judge in Kangra at Dharamshala.

Bhupesh Sharma: From Registrar General to Judge

Bhupesh Sharma brings nearly 30 years of experience in the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service to his new role on the High Court Bench.

He began his judicial career on July 9, 1996, as a Sub-Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate after graduating from Himachal Pradesh University. Over the years, he has held various judicial positions and was promoted to the Higher Judicial Service in 2012.

Sharma has served as Special Judge for the CBI in Shimla and has been a District and Sessions Judge in multiple districts across the state.

His administrative experience includes serving as Registrar General of the Himachal Pradesh High Court since October 2024, where he played a crucial role in the court's operations.

Yogesh Jaswal: Nearly Three Decades of Judicial Service

Yogesh Jaswal, also appointed as an Additional Judge, has close to 30 years of judicial experience.

Born on March 2, 1967, in Ambota, Una district, he completed his education in Shimla and obtained his law degree from Himachal Pradesh University. He joined the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Service in July 1996.

Jaswal has held various judicial roles and was promoted to the Higher Judicial Service in 2013, serving as Additional District and Sessions Judge and District and Sessions Judge.

His career includes significant assignments in districts such as Kinnaur, Chamba, and Kangra, and he has also been the Director of the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Academy.

Ceremony Highlights

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, and Health Minister Dr. Colonel Dhaniram Shandil, along with judges and senior officials.

Chief Secretary K.K. Pant oversaw the proceedings, reading the appointment warrants issued by the President of India. The Governor's Secretary, Sandeep Bhardwaj, facilitated the signing of the oath documents.

The induction of these three judges is timely for the state judiciary, as their collective experience in district courts and judicial administration is expected to significantly benefit the High Court.