Supreme Court Collegium Proposes Justice Arun Palli as Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court

Synopsis

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of Justice Arun Palli as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, succeeding Tashi Rabstan upon his retirement on April 9. Justice Palli has a distinguished legal career and has held significant positions in the judiciary.

Key Takeaways

Justice Arun Palli recommended as Chief Justice.
Current Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan retiring on April 9.
Justice Palli served as Additional Advocate General.
He has extensive experience in various legal fields.
Serves as Executive Chairman of Haryana State Legal Service Authority.

New Delhi, April 5 (NationPress) The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, has put forward a recommendation to the Centre for the appointment of Justice Arun Palli as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

In a statement released on the apex court's website on Saturday, the Collegium noted, "The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on April 4, 2025, has advised the appointment of Mr. Justice Arun Palli, currently a Judge in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh."

The current Chief Justice, Tashi Rabstan, is set to retire on April 9 at the age of 62. Justice Palli, recognized as the senior-most judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, joined the Bench in December 2013. His career began as Additional Advocate General for Punjab on September 1, 2004, a role he fulfilled until March 2007. He was conferred the title of Senior Advocate on April 26, 2007. After obtaining his Bachelor of Laws from Panjab University in Chandigarh, he engaged in legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, covering various legal fields such as civil, criminal, constitutional, revenue, industrial, and labour law. He has also appeared before the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, arguing significant cases in the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

Since May 31, 2023, Justice Palli has been serving as the Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Service Authority and was appointed a Member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in October 2023 for a two-year term. His father, a Senior Advocate, previously served on the Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court until his retirement in 1998. Justice Palli's lineage includes esteemed legal professionals, with his great-grandfather, Lachchman Dass Palli, and grandfather, Lajpat Rai Palli, recognized as respected lawyers in the Patiala District Bar.