Justice Pankaj Mithal appointed as Chief Justice of common High Court of J&K and Ladakh UTs

Faizan Wani

Srinagar, Dec 31(KNO): The President of India on Thursday appointed Justice Pankaj Mithal, presently a judge of Allahabad High Court, as Chief Justice of common High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories.

The Union Ministry of Law and Justice notified the appointment of Justice Pankaj Mithal as CJ of common High Court for both the UTs.

“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Pankaj Mithal, Judge of the Allahabad High Court, to be the Chief Justice of Common High Court for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office,” reads the notification issued by the Ministry, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer(KNO).

Justice Pankaj Mithal graduated in commerce from Allahabad University in the year 1982 and passed L.L.B. from Meerut College, Meerut affiliated to Ch. Charan Singh University in the year 1985.

He enrolled as an advocate in Bar Council of U.P. in the and practiced in the Allahabad High Court from 1985.

He worked as standing counsel, U.P. Avas Evam Vikas Parishad Lucknow since 1990 till elevation to Bench and as standing counsel of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra since 1990 to February 2006.

He was elevated as additional judge on July 7, 2006 and took oath as permanent judge on Jul 02, 2008.

The government also notified transfer of Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Common High Court of J&K and Ladakh UTs, as a Judge of Calcutta High Court.

“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Shri Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Common High Court for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh, as a Judge of the Calcutta High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Calcutta High Court,” reads another notification—(KNO)