The President of India has appointed Justice Sanjeev Kumar, the senior-most judge of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, as the Acting Chief Justice of the same court. This appointment will take effect from April 10, 2025, following the retirement of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan on April 9, 2025.
"In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, to perform the duties of office of the Chief Justice of that High Court with effect from 10.04.2025 consequent upon the retirement of Shri Justice Tashi Rabstan, Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court on 09.04.2025."
— Notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, dated April 9, 2025
Read also: Kerala High Court Advocates Association Files PIL Challenging Huge Hike in Court Fees
Justice Sanjeev Kumar was born on April 8, 1966, in village Prehta Nagrota, located in Tehsil Basohli, District Kathua. He completed his B.Sc. from Government Degree College Kathua in 1985 and went on to earn his LLB from the University of Jammu in 1988, both with first division.
In February 1989, he enrolled as an advocate with the J&K Bar Council, marking the beginning of a distinguished legal career.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar's career spans multiple decades, where he has served in various prestigious legal roles:
- He was appointed Government Advocate for the Srinagar Wing of the High Court of J&K twice—first from 1992 to 1993, and then from 1994 to 1995.
- In 1995, he became Government Advocate for the Jammu Wing and continued till 1998, representing nearly all major government departments and PSUs.
- He was also a Panel Advocate for the Advocate General's office, appearing for departments such as Forest, Finance, Commercial Taxes, and Excise.
- Justice Kumar served as the Standing Counsel for the J&K Services Selection Board (SSB) from 2006 to 2012.
Throughout his practice, Justice Kumar primarily appeared before the High Court and has over 200 reported judgments to his name.
Justice Kumar has played a vital role in several landmark cases:
- Toshakhana Case
- Assembly Dissolution Matter
- Reservation in Promotion Matter, among others
His legal insights and dedication to justice have earned him a respected place in the judiciary.
On June 6, 2017, Justice Sanjeev Kumar was sworn in as a Permanent Judge of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court. Since then, he has continued to uphold the law with integrity and diligence.
The Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Justice, issued a formal notification regarding Justice Kumar's appointment as the Acting Chief Justice. The document was signed by Joint Secretary Jagannath Srinivasan and includes communication to all relevant administrative and judicial departments.
The notification has also been forwarded to key offices, including:
- The Registrar General of the High Court
- The Lt. Governors of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
- The Finance Department, and
- The President’s Secretariat, among others
