Justice Ajay Tewari’s resignation notified

Chandigarh, April 14

Just about a month after the senior-most Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh, Justice Ajay Tewari, put in his papers days before his retirement upon attaining the age of superannuation, the Department of Justice has notified the same.

The notification issued by the department’s appointments division said: “Shri Justice Ajay Tewari has tendered his resignation from the office of Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, in pursuance of proviso (a) to clause (1) of Article 21 7 of the Constitution, with effect from 15th March, 2022 (afternoon)”.

Available information suggests Justice Tewari intends to practise before the Supreme Court as a senior advocate. The applications invited by the Supreme Court from retired Chief Justices and High Court Judges, among others, for ‘senior advocate designation’ were to be submitted by March 21. Justice Tewari, on the other hand, was to retire on April 5.

A third generation lawyer, Justice Tewari had practised on civil, service and constitutional side for 26 years before he was elevated as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2008. Justice Tewari was also the Executive Chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority and a member of the prestigious Collegium, which a few days back recommended the names of advocates for elevation as High Court Judges.

Following his resignation, Justice Augustine George Masih is now the first pusine Judge or the senior-most after the Chief Justice and Justice Ritu Bahri has been included in the Collegium.