The Union Government has granted its official approval for the appointments of Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice G Narendar as the new Chief Justices of the Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand High Courts, respectively. Both appointments were confirmed on Monday, following recommendations from the Supreme Court Collegium.
Justice Sandhawalia's appointment to the Himachal Pradesh High Court follows a revised recommendation from the Supreme Court Collegium in September 2024. Initially proposed for the Madhya Pradesh High Court, his name was redirected to Himachal Pradesh, where his leadership is expected to make a significant impact.
Justice Sandhawalia's judicial career began in 2011 when he was appointed as an additional judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Later confirmed as a permanent judge in 2014, his rise to the position of Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh marks a major milestone in his career.
In an announcement shared by Union Minister of State for Law Arjun Ram Meghwal, he stated that Justice Sandhawalia’s appointment will "further strengthen the judiciary in Himachal Pradesh," signifying the positive impact he is expected to have on the state’s legal system.
In another important move, Justice G Narendar has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. This decision, formalized by the Ministry of Law and Justice, follows the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendation and will take effect once Justice Narendar assumes charge of his new role.
Justice Narendar, who began his judicial career in 2015 as a judge of the Karnataka High Court, was later transferred to the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2023, where he became the senior-most judge. His extensive judicial and administrative experience earned him praise from the Collegium, which remarked, "He is an experienced Judge with considerable experience on the judicial and administrative sides of the High Courts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh."
Justice Narendar’s appointment is expected to bring strong leadership to the Uttarakhand High Court, particularly at a time when the court is focused on improving its efficiency and handling complex legal challenges.
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