Himachal Pradesh High Court to get two new judges as SC collegium clears names
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source internet
Shimla, Sept 16,
The Himachal Pradesh high court will get two new judges, after Supreme Court Collegium has approved the elevation of two senior advocates as judges, strengthening the bench in the hill state.
According to a statement issued by the Supreme Court Registry on Monday, the Collegium, in its meeting held on September 15, 2025, cleared the names of Advocate Jiya Lal Bhardwaj and Advocate Romesh Verma for appointment as judges. Both appeared before the Collegium recently in an interaction round, after which their candidature was endorsed.
With their appointment, the effective strength of the Himachal Pradesh High Court will rise from the present 11 to 13 judges, including the Chief Justice. This comes as a relief for the high court, which has been functioning under a reduced strength due to recent elevations and impending retirements.
The sanctioned strength of the Himachal Pradesh High Court was enhanced from 13 to 17 judges in June 2022. However, the actual working strength has often remained lower. The vacancy position widened recently when Justice Trilok Singh Chauhan was elevated as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, bringing down the strength in Himachal to 11. Another judge is also set to retire later this year, which would again impact the bench’s capacity.
The elevation of Bhardwaj and Verma, both prominent members of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association, has been welcomed in legal circles. Sources indicated that the remaining vacancies may be filled in the near future through a mix of appointments from the subordinate judiciary and transfers from other high courts, to reach the sanctioned strength of 17.
The appointments are expected to provide much-needed relief to the high court, which is handling an increasing volume of cases related to land disputes, environmental litigation, service matters, and public interest petitions. With the addition of two new judges, the court will be better equipped to reduce case pendency and ensure faster disposal of matters.
Once the official notification is issued by the Government of India, the swearing-in of the new judges is expected to take place at the Himachal Pradesh High Court in Shimla.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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