Oath Ceremony Held at Punjab Governor House
Chandigarh, September 7, 2026: Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra took oath as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, despite objections raised by the Punjab government over his appointment. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Punjab Governor House, where Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria administered the oath of office and secrecy to Justice Mishra. Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, Haryana Governor Ashim Ghosh and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were among those present at the ceremony.
Punjab Cabinet Had Opposed the Appointment
The Punjab government had raised objections to Justice Mishra’s appointment during a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, passed a proposal seeking that the swearing-in should not take place until the state government’s consent was taken. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the Cabinet questioned whether the prescribed procedure for the appointment had been properly followed.
State Government Questions Appointment Process
The Punjab government said that its opinion had been sought regarding the appointment, but the notification was issued before the state could submit its response. The government described the move as a disregard for Punjab’s position and raised questions over the appointment process.
Despite the objections, Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra took oath as the new Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday.