Chandigarh, August 3
Haryana’s senior deputy advocate-general Ritu Bahri will soon be administered oath as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The President has cleared her name for elevation as an additional judge of the HC. A fax message in this regard was received today. The oath ceremony is likely to take place in a week’s time.

Bahri’s name was first approved by the HC collegium headed by the then Chief Justice Vijender Jain in January 2008. In fact, the collegium had forwarded the names of eight advocates to the Supreme Court. But names of five were cleared for elevation.

Available information suggests Bahri’s name was sent for reconsideration to the SC over the issue of total experience; and it now stands cleared.

Even after her elevation, the shortage of judges in the HC continues. With Bahri joining, the number of judges in the HC will go up to 47 as against sanctioned strength of 68.

In another development, Chief Justice of the Uttaranchal High Court and former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice JS Khehar has been appointed the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court. He replaces PD Dinakaran, who goes as the Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court. The transfer orders came in accordance with recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium.

Justice Khehar’s name was initially cleared for transfer to Karnataka sometimes in April, but with the Sikkim Bar Association opposing the transfer of Dinakaran, the impasse continued.