Centre Notifies Appointment Of Two Advocates And One Judicial Officer As Himachal Pradesh High Court Judges

The Centre today notified three fresh appointments of High Court judges to the Himachal Pradesh High Court, namely Ranjan Sharma, Bipin Chander Negi and Rakesh Kainthla. While Ranjan Sharma and Bipin Chander are advocates, Rakesh Kainthla is a judicial officer. 

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court Collegium comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul & Sanjiv Khanna had recommended their names. 

The Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues had earlier made the recommendation on 05 December 2022 and the Chief Minister and the Governor of the State of Himachal Pradesh had concurred with the recommendation.

“In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, we have consulted Judges of the Supreme Court who are conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in order to ascertain the suitability of the above-named Advocates and Judicial Officer for elevation to the High Court of Himachal Pradesh,” the resolution read.

With Regard to Advocate Ranjan Sharma, the collegium had stated that he was designated as a Senior Advocate on 29 March 2019. He has extensive practice at the Bar and is serving as an Additional Advocate General with a reasonably good professional income. The inputs received from the Government indicate that he enjoys a good personal and professional image and nothing adverse has come to notice with regard to his integrity, the resolution stated.

Recommending Advocate Bipin Chander Negi, the collegium resolution stated that he was designated as a Senior Advocate in 2015. He was appointed as an amicus curiae by the High Court in several matters and is reported to have knowledge of diverse branches of law, having appeared before the High Court and district courts. He would have tenure of over seven years and the inputs provided by the Government in the file indicate that he enjoys a good personal and professional reputation, the resolution stated.

On Rakesh Kainthla, Judicial Officer the resolution stated that he joined judicial service on 07 August 1995 and has served as Judicial Officer in various capacities in the State. The inputs placed by the Government in the file indicate that he enjoys a good personal and professional image, it stated.