Punjab cabinet rejects centre's appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as HC chief

A day after the Centre issued the notification appointing Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Punjab cabinet under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann passed a resolution rejecting the decision, claiming the state was not consulted as required by the Memorandum of Procedure. Mann posted his criticism on X and wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing the appointment as a direct violation of constitutional norms.

Justice Mishra, currently the acting chief justice, is the sole recent promotion from within the same high court and has issued notable rulings, including an order for the Punjab government to settle pending dearness allowance. The Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal informed both Punjab and Haryana of the proposal on August 12, and while Haryana responded favorably, Punjab has not submitted its opinion, prompting the centre to proceed.

Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain maintained that all required procedures were observed, whereas retired judges argue that the state’s consent is merely consultative and not decisive. The dispute raises questions about the balance of power between the central government and state authorities in judicial appointments.