The Supreme Court Collegium has approved the elevation of 10 advocates as judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The approved names are:
1. Arun Monga
2. Deepak Sabharwal
3. Srinivasan Ramamurthy
4. Vinod Sharma
5. Jasgurpreet Singh Puri
6. Gaurav Puri
7. Ankur Mittal
8. Neha Kapur
9. Harsh Bunger
10. Aman Chaudhary
The decision was made on February 29, 2024. The Collegium considered reports from the High Court Collegium, the Intelligence Bureau, and other relevant information before reaching its decision.
Arun Monga is a senior advocate with extensive experience in civil and criminal matters. Deepak Sabharwal also has a substantial practice focusing on civil litigation. Srinivasan Ramamurthy specializes in constitutional law and civil rights cases. Vinod Sharma is known for his work in service and property law. Jasgurpreet Singh Puri practices in a wide range of areas including civil, criminal, and constitutional law. Gaurav Puri focuses on corporate and commercial litigation. Ankur Mittal is experienced in handling civil and writ matters. Neha Kapur practices primarily in civil and family law. Harsh Bunger has a background in criminal law and constitutional matters. Aman Chaudhary focuses on civil and arbitration cases.
These appointments aim to address the existing vacancies in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and strengthen its judicial capacity. The High Court has been facing a significant number of vacancies, leading to a heavy workload for the existing judges. These appointments are expected to help reduce the pendency of cases and improve the efficiency of the court.
The names will now be sent to the government for final notification and appointment. The process typically involves a review by the government and subsequent presidential approval. Once appointed, these judges will play a crucial role in administering justice in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
