Justice Arun Palli administered oath as Chief Justice of J&K and Ladakh High Court

Justice Arun Palli was on Wednesday administered oath as the Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court by Lieutenant-Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha.

The simple, but impressive, ceremony was attended by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Judges of the high court, subordinate judiciary and other dignitaries. The Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice GS Sandhawalia was also present.

Judges, sitting and retired, from Justice Palli’s parent high court of Punjab and Haryana, along with advocates, family and friends, also attended the event at the Convention Centre.

Chief Justice Palli’s appointment follows the Supreme Court collegium’s recommendation earlier this month.

Over the past decade on the Bench, Justice Palli earned wide respect for his ability to navigate complex constitutional, civil, arbitration and intellectual property rights issues with judicial clarity and craftsmanship. His rulings have consistently reflected intellectual rigour, balance, and fidelity to constitutional values and have stood out for their precision, coherence, and sensitivity to both legal nuance and administrative equity.

Appointed to the Bench on December 28, 2013, Justice Palli has also served as Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority since May 2023, and was nominated to the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority in October 2023—recognitions that reflect his commitment to strengthening access to justice and institutional outreach.

Before his elevation, Justice Palli had a distinguished practice as a lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he was designated Senior Advocate in 2007. He served as Additional Advocate-General for Punjab between 2004 and 2007, and was appointed amicus curiae in several high-stakes constitutional matters.

Born on September 18, 1964, Justice Palli comes from a family deeply rooted in the legal profession. His father, Justice (Retd) Prem Kishan Palli, served on the Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. After graduating in law from Panjab University in 1988, he built a formidable legal practice spanning constitutional, civil, labour, industrial, and revenue matters.

J & K