In a significant development for the judiciary in northern India, two judicial officers from Haryana have been elevated to the bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Sudeepti Sharma and Deepika Singh were sworn in as Additional Judges of the High Court in a formal ceremony held on Saturday.
Ceremony and Oath-Taking at the High Court
The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha in a proceeding conducted within the High Court premises. The event was attended by fellow judges of the High Court, family members of the newly appointed judges, and other dignitaries from the legal fraternity. This appointment follows the approval from the President of India, based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
Profiles of the Newly Appointed Judges
Sudeepti Sharma brings considerable experience to her new role. Prior to this elevation, she served as the District and Sessions Judge in Panchkula, Haryana. She is a law graduate from the prestigious Kurukshetra University and was originally appointed to the Haryana Superior Judicial Service in the year 2007. Her judicial career has seen her serve in various capacities across the state.
Similarly, Deepika Singh has a distinguished track record. Before becoming an Additional Judge, she was presiding as the District and Sessions Judge in Jind, Haryana. She completed her LL.B. from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Her entry into the judicial services dates back to 2008 when she joined the Haryana Superior Judicial Service, and she has since handled numerous important cases at the district level.
Implications for the High Court
The induction of these two officers is expected to bolster the judicial strength of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which holds jurisdiction over the states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Appointments from the state judicial services are crucial as they infuse extensive practical experience in trial court proceedings into the higher judiciary. This move is seen as a positive step in addressing the workload and ensuring the smooth functioning of one of the country's busiest High Courts.
The legal community in Chandigarh and the states of Haryana and Punjab has welcomed the appointments, viewing them as a recognition of merit and dedication within the state judicial services. The careers of Judges Sudeepti Sharma and Deepika Singh will now enter a new phase as they take on the responsibility of adjudicating matters at the High Court level.
