Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Union Government has appointed Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as the Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court following the elevation of Justice Sheel Nagu to the Supreme Court of India.
The appointment was announced through a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Monday. The decision has been made under Article 223 of the Constitution, which provides for the appointment of an Acting Chief Justice when the position falls vacant or the incumbent is unable to discharge official duties.
Justice Sheel Nagu’s recent elevation to the country’s highest court created a vacancy in the leadership of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, prompting the Centre to designate Justice Mishra to oversee its functioning until a permanent Chief Justice is appointed.
A seasoned jurist with more than three decades of legal experience, Justice Mishra became part of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2025 after being transferred from the Allahabad High Court. Before joining the Bench, he built a distinguished practice in constitutional, civil and service law matters.
Born on November 16, 1968, Justice Mishra studied Economics at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and later earned his law degree from the Campus Law Centre. He enrolled as an advocate in 1993 and went on to represent numerous public authorities and government bodies in significant legal proceedings.
His legal career saw him appear for organisations such as NOIDA, the Ghaziabad and Allahabad Development Authorities, IFFCO, Indian Oil Corporation and Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation. He was also entrusted with handling key matters on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government.
In recognition of his standing at the Bar, Justice Mishra was designated as a Senior Advocate in 2013. The following year, he was elevated to the Allahabad High Court as an Additional Judge and later became a permanent judge in 2016.
During his judicial tenure, he has been associated with several high-profile cases. Among the most notable was his involvement in proceedings related to the Nithari serial killings case, one of the country’s most widely discussed criminal matters.
Since his arrival at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Mishra has delivered a series of significant rulings, particularly in service law and constitutional matters. He has also attracted attention for taking a firm judicial approach in cases concerning illegal mining activities.
His appointment as Acting Chief Justice marks an important transition for the High Court, which serves the states of Punjab and Haryana as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The move ensures continuity in judicial administration while the process of appointing a full-time Chief Justice is undertaken.
