Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra Takes Oath as Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Amid Political Tensions
Swearing-In Ceremony of Justice Mishra
Photo: @aapka_vineet/X
Chandigarh, September 7: On Monday, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was officially sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was absent from the event, which comes amid rising tensions between the state government and the central authorities regarding his appointment.
The oath was administered by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria during a formal ceremony attended by High Court judges, senior officials, and members of the legal community, including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh.
Chief Minister Mann's absence, along with that of his entire Cabinet, was particularly striking, especially following a Cabinet resolution that objected to Justice Mishra’s appointment and requested a delay in the swearing-in process.
The Punjab government has asserted that the Centre moved forward with the appointment without considering the state's input. They have appealed to the President, Prime Minister, and Governor to postpone the swearing-in, claiming that the necessary consultation with the state government was overlooked.
In contrast, the Centre has argued that the appointment of a High Court Chief Justice follows a specific memorandum of procedure and constitutional guidelines, asserting that state government approval is not a prerequisite.
The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, had put forth Justice Mishra’s name for appointment on August 6.
This appointment has sparked a significant political and constitutional debate, with the Punjab government openly challenging the process. The Cabinet's resolution against the appointment coincided with CM Mann's choice to skip the oath-taking ceremony.
Justice Mishra had been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court since June 2, following the elevation of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu to the Supreme Court. He was previously transferred from the Allahabad High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2025.
This situation has further complicated the already tense relationship between the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led central government.
Justice Mishra was born on November 16, 1968, and completed his BA (Honours) in Economics from Kirori Mal College at the University of Delhi, followed by an LLB from the Campus Law Centre at the same university. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on February 3, 2014, and became a permanent Judge on February 1, 2016, serving there until his transfer in July 2025.