Chandigarh, April 6
Justice MM Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is to be the new Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. His name has already been cleared for elevation to the coveted post of Chief Justice by the Supreme Court collegium.

Justice Kumar surpasses Justice Ashutosh Mohunta. Senior to Justice Kumar, Justice Mohunta was transferred from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, where he assumed charge in October 2010.

Available information suggests, Justice Mohunta was not favourably considered for elevation as the Chief Justice. It is believed that this is, however, not the first time a ‘junior’ judge has surpassed his ‘senior’ for being elevated as the Chief Justice.

The post of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice had fallen vacant after the elevation of Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla to the Supreme Court. He was, in fact, administered oath as the apex court judge Monday last.

Currently, Justice Virender Singh is acting as the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. He was administered oath as the Acting Chief Justice there on April 2.

The number of judges in the Punjab and Haryana High Court will now go down to 41 judges, against the sanctioned strength of 68 judges.

His elevation comes at a time when the High Court is reeling under scarcity of Judges and is coping up with the problem of pendency of cases. As of now, approximately 2 lakh cases are pending adjudication.

Justice Kumar’s departure will also see the High Court wear a new look. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi too is expected to depart, following his elevation as a Judge of the Supreme Court. He is to be replaced by Justice Bimala Prasad Das of the Orissa High Court. Justice Das' name, too, has been cleared by the Supreme Court collegium and his warrants of appointment are expected to be received by the high court here after being signed by the President. The entire process is expected to take about a fortnight.

Justice Kumar, who remained the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court here, has always been known for his impeccable integrity, caliber and administrative experience. Also known for his transparent style of functioning and for not mincing words, Justice Kumar had created a flutter of sorts by asserting that no one could behave like Henry VIII and an “emperor-like approach needs to be condemned ”, while setting aside an appointment ordered by the Haryana Chief Minister.