JAMMU: Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar, on Friday administered oath to Justice Bansi Lal Bhat as Permanent Judge of J&K High Court at 12:30 PM in his office.
Earlier the warrants of appointment and notification received from Rashtrapati Bhawan and Ministry of Law Justice, Govt of India, New Delhi was read by Suresh Kumar Sharma, Registrar General of J and K High Court. He also read the letter of authorization of Governor of J and K authorising Chief Justice M.M Kumar to administer the oath of office to Justice Bansi Lal Bhat.
The oath ceremony was attended by Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal and Senior Advocates, members of Bar and Judicial Officers of the District Judiciary. Keeping in view the catastrophe caused by floods in the state, the usual practice of ceremonial tea after oath has been dispensed with.
Justice B.L Bhat born on 19th April, 1954 at Village Arihal Tehsil and District Pulwama, Kashmir. Passed Matriculation from Government High School, Hawal when he was not even 14 years. He completed Graduation from Amar Singh College, Srinagar in 1972 and obtained his Law Degree from University of Kashmir in 1974. Enrolled as pleader with Bar Association Srinagar on 15th January, 1975 and shifted to Pulwama and practiced in Civil, Criminal and Revenue Courts until selection in KCS Judicial.
He joined as Munsiff on 17th November, 1982 and promoted as Sub Judge on 29th June, 1989. Justice Bhat served as CJM, Jammu till his induction in Higher Judicial Service in August 1999 and was Principal District and Sessions Judge in Jammu and Srinagar besides at Poonch, Reasi and Kathua. He was Presiding Officer of Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Jammu for a year. He got selection Grade on 1st February, 2005 and was placed in Super Time Scale on 1st February, 2009. He also served for two tenures as Special Judge Anti Corruption Jammu.
He was appointed as Special Judge of the newly created Anti Corruption Court for trial of CBI Cases on 18th August, 2011 where he served till his elevation. Contributed to development of Law by delivering many Landmark judgments and settled thousands of disputes as Presiding Officer of the Permanent Lok Adalat. Regularly contributed to SJA Newsletter. Contributed to raising of standard of Legal Education by delivering lectures in State Judicial Academy and Faculty of Law University of Jammu. He was appointed as Additional Judge of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on 8th March, 2013. JNF