Tezzbuzz Desk – Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra took oath as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, September 7, amid opposition from the Punjab government. Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath of office to him in a ceremony held at Punjab Lok Bhawan.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann did not attend the swearing-in ceremony. Whereas Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Governor Prof. Asim Kumar Ghosh was present in the program.
CM Bhagwant Mann's chair remained vacant in the function
During the swearing-in ceremony, the chair placed on the stage for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann remained empty. Apart from this, the chairs placed below for the Cabinet Ministers of Punjab Government and the Assembly Speaker also appeared empty.
On the contrary, Haryana government ministers and assembly speaker attended the function. In such a situation, the absence of Punjab government in the swearing-in ceremony remained a topic of discussion.
The Punjab government has already registered its protest regarding the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra. On September 6, the Punjab Cabinet had passed a resolution against the appointment notification issued by the Central Government.
The Punjab government said that the opinion of the state government was not waited for before the appointment of Justice Mishra. The cabinet alleged that constitutional provisions and prescribed procedure were ignored in the appointment process.
Bhagwant Mann had written letters to the President and PM
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had also written separate letters to President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this matter. He had requested the Center not to proceed with the process of swearing in of Justice Mishra.
Mann had said that further process in this regard should be put on hold until the concerns raised by the state government are resolved. However, despite the opposition, Justice Mishra took oath as Chief Justice on Monday.
Have also served in Allahabad High Court
Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra had enrolled himself as an advocate on 8 May 1993. In the year 2013, he was made a senior advocate. After this, on 3 February 2014, he took oath as Additional Judge and on 1 February 2016, he took oath as Permanent Judge of Allahabad High Court.
Later he was transferred to Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he took charge on 21 July 2025. Now he has been appointed the Chief Justice of this High Court.