The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has elevated 25 lawyers to the rank of Senior Advocate, a recognition that carries prestige and responsibility within the legal profession. The decision was taken in a Full Court meeting on 19 August 2025, marking the first such exercise since December 2020.
According to the High Court, the process was aimed at acknowledging “professional excellence at the Bar while upholding merit, diversity and fair representation.” A total of 45 applications were received, which were then scrutinised on the basis of seniority, quality of advocacy, integrity and contribution to the legal community. Advocates practicing both before the High Court and at district or trial courts were considered, ensuring inclusiveness in the selection.
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After detailed deliberations, the Full Court unanimously approved the designation of the following lawyers as Senior Advocates:
- Sh. Surrinder Singh
- Sh. Shabir Ahmad Naik,
- Sh. Tahir Majid Shamsi,
- Sh. Syed Manzoor Ahmad,
- Sh. Mushtaq Ahmad Chashoo,
- Sh. Aseem Kumar Sawhney,
- Ms. Deepika Mahajan,
- Sh. Ravinder Sharma,
- Sh. Rakesh Kumar Chargotra,
- Ms. Masooda Jan,
- Sh. Amit Gupta,
- Sh. Tasaduq Hussain Khawaja,
- Sh. Chander Sheikher Gupta,
- Sh. Vishal Sharma,
- Sh. Nirmal Kishore Kotwal,
- Sh. Rameshwar Prasad Sharma,
- Sh. Ajay Sharma,
- Sh. Shah Mohd.,
- Sh. Sakal Bhushan,
- Sh. Rajnish Raina,
- Ms. Shabeena Nazir,
- Sh. Rohit Kohli,
- Sh. Raman Sharma,
- Sh. Anupam Raina
- Ms. Shivani Jalali Pandita
Registrar General M.K. Sharma, while issuing the notification, clarified that the designations are subject to compliance with Rule 5 of the High Court’s Senior Advocate Designation Rules, 2025. Legal experts believe this recognition will not only strengthen the Bar but also inspire young advocates to strive for excellence in advocacy.
