Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra Appointed to Perform Duties of Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana HC

The President has directed Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra to discharge Chief Justice duties at the Punjab and Haryana High Court after Justice Sheel Nagu's elevation to the Supreme Court of India.

The Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Justice, issued a gazette notification on 1 June 2026 appointing Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, a sitting Judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice of that court. The appointment follows the elevation of Justice Sheel Nagu, who was serving as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to the Supreme Court of India. The notification is issued under Article 223 of the Constitution of India, which empowers the President to make such an arrangement when the office of a High Court Chief Justice falls vacant or the Chief Justice is unable to perform the duties of the office.

The Constitutional Basis for the Appointment

Article 223 of the Constitution provides that when the office of Chief Justice of a High Court is vacant, or when the Chief Justice is absent or unable to perform the duties of the office, those duties shall be performed by such other Judge of the court as the President may appoint for the purpose.

In this instance, the vacancy arises directly from Justice Sheel Nagu's appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. With that appointment taking effect, the Chief Justice's position at the Punjab and Haryana High Court became vacant, triggering the Article 223 mechanism.

Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra Designated to Hold Charge

The notification, bearing reference No. K. 11019/09/2026-USJ/II and dated 1 June 2026, records that the President is pleased to appoint Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Justice Mishra was already serving as a Judge of that court at the time of the notification.

The notification was issued from Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road, New Delhi, and signed by the Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Justice.

Distribution and Administrative Effect

Copies of the notification were directed to a wide range of constitutional and administrative authorities. These include the Governors of Punjab and Haryana, the Chief Ministers of both States, the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana, the Accountant Generals of both States, the President's Secretariat, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and the Registrar (Confidential) in the office of the Chief Justice of India.

The Registrar General of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh was also addressed, as was the Secretary to the Chief Justice of that court. The Technical Director, NIC, Department of Justice, was requested to upload the notification on the Department's website at www.doj.gov.in.

The copy to Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra himself was routed through the Registrar General of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh.

Outcome

With effect from 1 June 2026, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra is designated to perform the duties of the office of Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, consequent upon Justice Sheel Nagu's appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. The arrangement operates under Article 223 of the Constitution of India.