In a significant development for the judiciary in North India, the Punjab and Haryana High Court welcomed two new judges on Thursday. Chief Justice Sheel Nagu administered the oath of office to Ramesh Chander Dimri and Neerja Kulwant Kalson, marking their formal elevation to the bench.
Oath Ceremony and Judicial Background
The solemn oath-taking ceremony was presided over by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu at the High Court in Chandigarh. Both Ramesh Chander Dimri and Neerja Kulwant Kalson have been promoted from within the judicial services. Prior to this elevation, they served as judicial officers in the Haryana Superior Judicial Services, holding the rank of District and Sessions Judges. Their appointment underscores a career path of promotion based on experience and service.
The Appointment Process and Current Strength
The journey to their new roles followed a structured constitutional process. The Supreme Court collegium had initially recommended their names for elevation during a meeting held on December 16, 2025. Following this recommendation, the central government formally notified their appointment on January 3 of this year, paving the way for Thursday's ceremony.
With these two new inductions, the total number of judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court now stands at 61. However, the court continues to function below its full sanctioned strength, which is set at 85 judges. This leaves a vacancy of 24 positions, highlighting an ongoing need for further appointments to manage the court's substantial workload effectively.
Significance of the Punjab and Haryana High Court
The Punjab and Haryana High Court is one of the largest and most prominent high courts in India. It exercises jurisdiction over two major states, Punjab and Haryana, as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The court handles a vast and complex array of cases from this important region, making the appointment of new judges a crucial step towards ensuring timely justice and reducing case backlogs.
The elevation of experienced judicial officers like Dimri and Kalson is seen as a positive move to bolster the bench's expertise and efficiency. It reinforces the promotion track within the judicial services and brings seasoned perspectives to the High Court's deliberations.
