The Union Law Ministry officially announced on February 12 that Advocates Harmeet Singh Grewal and Deepinder Singh Nalwa have been sworn in as Additional Judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The appointments were made by the President of India under constitutional provisions, following consultations with the Chief Justice of India.
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In October 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended five advocates for elevation as Additional Judges of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The list included Harmeet Grewal, Deepinder Nalwa, Sumeet Goel, Sudeepti Sharma, and Kirti Singh. While three of these advocates were appointed in November 2023, Grewal and Nalwa’s appointments were finalized later, as per the recent notification.
The Collegium reiterated its decision in a November 2023 resolution, emphasizing that the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, along with two senior-most judges, had initially recommended the advocates’ elevation in April 2023. The Chief Ministers and Governors of Punjab and Haryana also endorsed the recommendations.
Regarding Harmeet Grewal, the Collegium noted:
“Two of the three consultee-judges unanimously affirmed his suitability for the role. His legal expertise and contributions align with the standards expected of a High Court Judge.”
For Deepinder Nalwa, the Collegium highlighted:
“All three consultee-judges unanimously approved his appointment. Nalwa’s extensive legal practice is evident from his involvement in numerous significant cases and reported judgments.”
The Collegium particularly praised Nalwa’s professional track record, citing his active role in high-profile cases that shaped judicial precedents.
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With these appointments, the High Court’s working judge count rises to 53, still below the sanctioned strength of 85. This gap underscores the ongoing efforts to address judicial vacancies across Indian courts.
