Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Oct 29
The Supreme Court collegium on Thursday approved the appointment of nine advocates as judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Tabasum Zafar, whose elevation would mark a milestone for women’s representation in the judiciary.
The advocates cleared for appointment are Vishal Sharma, Vikram Kumar Sharma, Namgyal Wangchuk, Pawan Kumar Kundal, Tahir Majid Shamsi, Tabasum Zafar, Amit Gupta, Pranav Kohli and Anupam Raina.
Zafar would become the first woman advocate from Kashmir to serve as a judge of the High Court.
The appointments come amid efforts to strengthen the judiciary in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, where the High Court has a sanctioned strength of 25 judges, comprising 19 permanent and six additional judges.
The sanctioned strength was increased from 17 in November 2024 to address the court’s workload and mounting case pendency.
In April, the High Court collegium, headed by Chief Justice Arun Palli, had recommended 10 advocates and a judicial officer for elevation to the bench.
The recommendations followed consultations involving the chief justice and senior judges, with merit, integrity, professional competence and regional and social representation among the considerations.
The list included the nine advocates approved on Thursday and former Jammu and Kashmir Advocate General Jahangir Iqbal Ganai.
The judicial officer recommended in April, Yash Paul Bourney, was subsequently approved by the Supreme Court collegium in September and sworn in as a High Court judge on Sept. 22.
The High Court exercises jurisdiction over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, hearing civil, criminal and constitutional matters, including disputes involving government decisions, individual rights and administration.
The Supreme Court collegium, comprising the Chief Justice of India and senior Supreme Court judges, plays a central role in recommending appointments to the higher judiciary.
