President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Dr Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati, a judge of the Rajasthan High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. The appointment will take effect from the date he assumes office.
The Union Law Ministry issued formal notifications announcing the appointments on Sunday. Justice Bhati, along with seven other judges, has been appointed Chief Justice of various High Courts. The notifications stated that the appointments were made by the President under Articles 217 and 222 of the Constitution of India.
Justice Bhati will be sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on September 9 (Wednesday) at 10 a.m. at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
On August 31, 2026, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati for appointment as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. Justice Bhati is a senior judge with extensive judicial experience. He was elevated to the bench on November 16, 2016.
Former Additional Advocate General of Rajasthan
According to media reports, his areas of expertise include writ jurisdiction, particularly service and other matters, as well as revenue, elections, mining, education, Panchayati Raj, criminal matters and public interest litigation.
He served as Additional Advocate General for the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur from October 13, 2008, to December 29, 2008, and again from January 6, 2014, until his elevation to the Bench.
He also served as a panel lawyer for the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the Labour Department of the Government of Rajasthan and the Ayurveda Department of the Government of Rajasthan.
In addition, he represented the Reserve Bank of India, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, and several other organisations. He also served as Standing Counsel for the Indian Railways for 16 years.
Served as President of the Rajasthan High Court Lawyers Association
Justice Bhati was elected a member of the Rajasthan Bar Council and served from 2009 to 2015. He served as President of the Rajasthan High Court Lawyers Association from 2011 to 2013 and as General Secretary of the Rajasthan High Court Advocates Association in 2001.
He was a visiting faculty member at the Faculty of Law of his alma mater, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, for 19 years, from 1997 to 2016. He also served as a visiting faculty member at the National Law University, Jodhpur, for one year.
He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Indian Law Institute (Rajasthan Chapter) and has been a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association since 1992.
Justice Bhati is also an accomplished horse rider, swimmer, shooter, solo glider pilot and parasailer. He has participated in several adventure activities with the National Cadet Corps (NCC).