Chandigarh, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Cabinet staying away from the ceremony amid an escalating dispute with the Centre over his appointment.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath at a formal ceremony attended by High Court judges, senior government officials and members of the legal fraternity. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh were also present.
The absence of Mann and the Punjab Cabinet came a day after the state Cabinet passed a resolution objecting to Justice Mishra’s appointment and urged that his swearing-in be deferred.
The Punjab government has maintained that the Centre proceeded with the appointment without awaiting the state’s views. It had appealed to the President, Prime Minister and Governor to defer the appointment, alleging that the established consultation process had not been followed.
The Centre, however, has maintained that the appointment of a High Court Chief Justice is governed by the constitutional mechanism and the memorandum of procedure for judicial appointments, and that concurrence of the state government is not mandatory.
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, recommended Justice Mishra’s appointment on August 6.
Justice Mishra had been serving as 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 transferred from the Allahabad High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2025.
Born on November 16, 1968, Justice Mishra holds a BA (Honours) in Economics from Kirori Mal College and an LLB from the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi. He became an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 2014 and a permanent Judge in 2016. He served there until his transfer in July 2025.
The appointment controversy has further strained ties between the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led Centre.
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