Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Mishra Takes Oath as Punjab-Haryana Chief Justice Amid Dispute
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra became the new Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Punjab Governor gave him the oath at a ceremony in Chandigarh.
Punjab’s government had asked the Centre to delay the appointment.
It said the Centre should have waited for Punjab’s opinion before proceeding.
Punjab said this was required by the official appointment procedure.
The Centre’s lawyer said Punjab had enough time to share its views.
He also said a state government cannot veto the appointment.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann did not attend the ceremony, but the oath went ahead.
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra took oath as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath at Lok Bhawan in Chandigarh.
The Punjab Cabinet had asked the Centre to pause the appointment and oath until the state’s views were considered.
Punjab said the Centre notified the appointment without awaiting its response under Paragraph 6 of the Memorandum of Procedure.
Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain said Punjab had enough time to respond and no veto over the appointment.
- Who
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, the Punjab government, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, and the Centre are central to the dispute.
- What
- Mishra took oath as Chief Justice despite Punjab’s request to pause his appointment and the ceremony.
- When
- The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Mishra on August 6, 2026; the Centre sought Punjab’s views on August 12, notified the appointment on September 5, and the oath was administered on Monday.
- Where
- The oath ceremony took place at Lok Bhawan in Chandigarh, for the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
- Why
- Punjab objected that the Centre proceeded without awaiting its views, while the Centre’s representative said the state had sufficient time to respond and no veto power.
Punjab Government’s Objection
Centre’s Defence
State consultation
Punjab Government’s Objection
Punjab said the Centre should have waited for the state government’s views under Paragraph 6 of the Memorandum of Procedure before notifying the appointment.
Centre’s Defence
Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain said all states except Punjab sent their views within a week and that Punjab had sufficient time to respond.
Constitutional process
Punjab Government’s Objection
The Punjab Cabinet described the appointment as another instance of the Centre bypassing the state’s constitutional rights and established procedures.
Centre’s Defence
Jain said a state does not have veto power over a High Court chief justice appointment and should not hold up the judicial process indefinitely.
Oath ceremony
Punjab Government’s Objection
Punjab asked that the appointment and oath be put on hold until its concerns were addressed.
Centre’s Defence
The appointment proceeded, and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered Mishra’s oath on Monday.
- Appointee
- Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra
- Court
- Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Oath administrator
- Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria
- Oath venue
- Lok Bhawan, Chandigarh
- Collegium recommendation
- August 6, 2026
- Appointment notification
- Issued by the Centre on September 5 under Article 217(1) of the Constitution
- Punjab’s position
- The appointment and oath should be paused until the state’s views are obtained and considered
- Centre’s position
- Punjab had sufficient time to respond and states do not have veto power over High Court chief justice appointments
