SRINAGAR: Three newly-appointed judges today took oath of office here, raising the strength of judges in Jammu and Kashmir High Court to 12 against 17 available positions.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar Shukla, Justice Maharaj Krishan Hanjura and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta were administered oath of office by Chief Justice of the High Court Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad at a ceremony held in the High Court Complex, an official spokesman said.
Earlier, the warrants of appointment of the new judges issued by the President Pranab Mukherjee were read out by the registrar general of the High Court Sanjay Dhar.
The registrar general also read the letter of authorization issued by the state Governor N N Vohra, authorizing Chief Justice to administer the oath of office to the newly-appointed judges, the spokesman said.
Congratulating the newly appointed Judges, the Chief Justice wished them a successful tenure ahead.
Besides, Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar, Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Justice Tashi Rabstan, Minister for Law and Rural Development Department Abdul Haq, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, former Chief Justice and Chairman, State Accountability Commission Justice Bashir Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary, B B Vyas, Director General of Police, Dr S P Vaid, Principal secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Home, R K Goyal, Secretary, Law Abdul Majid Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Advocate General, retired Judges, high ranking civil, police and judicial officers, Members of Bar Councils and various Bar Associations, senior Advocates, officers and staff of the high Court Registry, family members and friends of newly appointed judges were present on the oath taking ceremony.
Pertinently, there are 17 positions in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir including Chief Justice. Of them 12 are permanent judges and five additional judges. With the appointment of these three judges, the strength of the High Court Judges has gone up to 12 as presently there were only nine Judges including Chief Justice.