JUSTICE KANT IS CHIEF JUSTICE OF HIMACHAL HC

CHANDIGARH: Justice Surya Kant of Punjab and Haryana high court has been appointed as chief justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court. A notification in this regard was issued by the Centre on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court collegium had cleared his appointment in January this year. However, government notification came on Wednesday. In January, while recommending appointment of justice Surya Kant, the Supreme Court collegium had recorded that it found him “more suitable” than Justice AK Mittal, who is senior to justice Surya Kant at high court. Justice Mittal is second senior most judge after the chief justice at Punjab and Haryana high court and justice Surya Kant at number 3. Ordinarily, seniority is not ignored in appointments of judges.

Justice Mittal is four years senior in age to Justice Kant. Both were elevated to the High Court on same day in 2004. It is learnt last year, Justice Mittal’s name was considered for elevation to the post of Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. However, to prevent supersession of Justice S S Saron (now retired) of Punjab and Haryana high court, elevation was deferred. His name was considered again in January, 2018, but this time collegium decided to supersede justice Mittal with recommendation of justice Surya Kant as chief justice.

Born on February 10, 1962 in a middle class family in Hisar he started his practice at district courts Hisar in 1984 and was appointed youngest advocate general of Haryana on July 7, 2000. He was appointed as judge of high court in 2004.

The post of chief justice of the HP high court had been lying vacant since April, 2017.