Judges' Profile

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph, Chief Justice

Hon'ble Mr. Justice R. B. Misra

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dev Darshan Sood Hon'ble Mr. Justice V. K. Ahuja Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surinder Singh
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Karol Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kuldip Singh Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma
Hon'ble Mr. Justice V. K. Sharma Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary  
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph, Chief Justice

Born on 30-11-1953. Educated at St. Joseph's U.P. School, Chengal, Kalady, St. Sebastin's High School, Kanjoor, Bharatha Matha College, Thrikkakara, Sree Sankara College, Kalady and the Kerala Law Academy Law College,Thiruvanathapuram.

Began legal practice in 1979. Was member of the Academic Council, Kerala University (1977-78), was General Secretary Kerala University Union(1978), was Senate member of Cochin University (1983-85). Served as Government Pleader (1987) and as Additional Advocate General(1994-96). Designated as Senior Advocate in 1996. Was member of Board of Studies, Indian Legal Thought of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam (1996). Served as President, Kerala Judicial Academy (2006-08). Was Chairman of Kerala High Court Legal Services Committee (2006-09), Chairman of Lakshadweep Legal Services Authority (2008).

Remained as Executive Chairman Kerala State Legal Services Authority, Chairman Indian Law Institute Kerala Branch, Chairman of Indian Law Reports (Kerala Series), Executive Member of NUALS (National University of Advanced Legal Studies) and as Judge, High Court of Kerala since 12-07-2000. Served twice as Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala.

Taken oath as Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on 08-Feb-2010.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice R. B. Misra, Judge

Name

Hon’ble Mr. Justice R. B. Misra

Source

Bar

Date of birth

01.08.1951

Initial joining at Allahabd

24.04.2001

Gauhati High Court

07.01.2005 to 29.04.2008

High Court of Himachal Pradesh

30.4.2008

Passed M.Sc.(Statistics) in 1971 and LL.B. in the year 1974 from University of Allahabad.

Appointed Sales Tax Officer in the year 1978 through Combined State Civil Service examination of U.P. Public Service Commission. Taught General Laws to the Sales Tax Officers/Assistant Commissioners in State Sales Tax Training Institute, Lucknow, U.P. as Guest Teacher (from 1979 to 1981).

Enrolled in Bar Council of U.P. on 5.01.1986.

Practised in Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow Bench, High Court of Delhi and mainly in Supreme Court of India since 1986 in Civil, Criminal, Taxation and Constitutional side.

Worked as Arguing Counsel for Union of India in Supreme Court (since August, 1987 to March, 2001).  Worked as arguing counsel for State of Himachal Pradesh in Supreme Court. Arguing counsel for State of M.P. in Supreme Court (from 1989 to 2000), Standing Counsel/Advocate on Record for State of U.P. in Supreme Court (from 1991 to 2001).  During such period conducted cases for State of U.P. in Historical cases, e.g. ‘Ayodhya Ram Janma-Bhumi, Babri Masjid’ cases. ‘TMA-PAI’ case, Presidential Reference case in Supreme Court.

Has also worked as Standing Counsel for Bar Council of India, Chancellor of State Universities of U.P., U.P. Public Service Commission, U.P. Jal Nigam, Development Authorities e.g. Allahabad, Bareilly, Gaziabad, Greater Noida, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad and Moussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority etc. and for large number of State Corporations of U.P., including U.P.S.I.D.C. and U.P. Financial Corporation;

Keen interest in social work, Arts and Culture, Philosophy and spirituality.

Elevated as permanent Judge at Allahabad High Court on April 24,2001. Transferred to Gauhati High Court on 07.01.2005 and served upto April 29,2008. Transferred to High Court of Himachal Pradesh Shimla on April 30,2008.

Has assumed the charge of Acting Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Shimla from 10.08.2009 (FN) till 08.02.2010 (FN) and also as Executive Chairman, H. P. State Legal Services Authority, Shimla from 09.09.2009 onwards.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Deepak Gupta, Judge

Born on 7th May, 1955 in Nurpur in Kangra District in a family of lawyers. His father late Sh. M. R. Gupta was a leading Advocate of Shimla and used to practice at the Himachal Bench of the Delhi High Court. Justice Gupta did his schooling from St. Edward's School in Shimla, graduated from SDB College, Shimla, and got his law degree from the Delhi University in 1978. He was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh in 1978 and started practising in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.  Justice Gupta handled various types of cases relating to Constitutional, Civil, Corporate and Insurance matters and also remained the standing counsel of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation, Himachal Pradesh Housing Board and New India Assurance Companies in the High Court. He was also the President of High Court Bar Association in 2002-03, Vice President in 1993-94 and Secretary in 1982-83. Justice Gupta has been appointed as Judge of the  High Court of Himachal Pradesh and administered the oath of office on 4th of October, 2004.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dev Darshan Sood, Judge

Born on 18 February, 1952 at Kangra.  He did his schooling (Indian School Certificate, Senior Cambridge) from St.Edward’s School, Shimla in the year 1967, B.Com. from the Faculty of Commerce of Business and Management, Punjab University Campus, Chandigarh in the year 1970, LL.B from Himachal Pradesh University in the year 1977 and LL.M from Delhi University in the year 1980.  He practised in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional and Taxation matters in Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court, Tees Hazari, Patiala House, Income Tax Tribunal and Central Excise Tribunal at New Delhi from 1980 to 1983.  He practised in Shimla from 1983 on the Original side, Appellate side, Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Company and Taxation matters in the Himachal Pradesh High Court at Shimla.  He was designated as Senior Advocate in the year 1997.  Elevated as Judge, High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla on 27th November, 2006.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice V.K.Ahuja, Judge

Born on 24.3.1951. Did B.Com(Hon's) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University in the year 1970. Did LL.B three years course from Delhi University in the year 1973. Was enrolled as an Advocate, Delhi Bar Association on 09.07.1973, vide Enrolment No. D/120/1973. Practised in District Courts, Delhi and High Court of Delhi upto 14.08.1974. On selection to the H.P.Judicial Service, Joined on 19.08.1974 as Sub Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate at Sundernagar. Thereafter, worked as Sub Judge at Sundernagar and Hamirpur till promoted as Senior Sub Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate, in the year 1979.Worked as Senior Sub Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate at Hamirpur till April, 1980 and then worked in same capacity at Mandi, Una and Kullu till promoted as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Nahan and joined there on 23.01.1989, and thereafter, worked in the same capacity at  Bilaspur. Became District & Sessions Judge, Chamba with effect from 20.05.1992 and in the same capacity worked at Bilaspur, Una, Dharamshala, Mandi, Bilaspur and in between worked as President, District Consumer Forums at Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti for two years from 08.5.1997 to 01.06.1999 and for one year as Member Secretary, H.P. State Legal Services Authority, Shimla with effect from 04.05.2005 to 30.6.2006. Thereafter, again worked as District and Sessions Judge, Shimla, from 01.07.2006 upto 26.11.2006. Elevated as permanent Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla on 27.11.2006.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Surinder Singh, Judge

Born on September 23, 1951 at Rajgarh District Sirmaur, H. P. Graduated from Punjab University, did his law from D.A.V. (Post Graduate) College Dehradun (Meerut University) in the year 1973.  Practiced in Civil, Criminal and Revenue matters in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and District Courts for about sixteen years. Was selected as Additional District and Sessions Judge in January, 1990. Remained posted as such at Dharamshala, Kullu, Nahan and Solan in Himachal Pradesh. Was posted as District and Sessions Judge (Forest) Shimla, District and Sessions Judge, Hamirpur, Mandi and Solan Districts. Was appointed as Legal Remembrancer-cum- Secretary Law to the Government of Himachal Pradesh in February 1997 and remained posted as such till May, 1999. Thereafter he was posted as Registrar (Vigilance) in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh till May, 2002. Was again appointed as Legal Remembrancer-cum- Secretary (Law) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh in March 2004 from Solan Sessions Division where he was District and Sessions Judge. He also remained Appellate Transport Authority under the Motor Vehicles Act and was also a Member of Appellate Authority of Copy Right Board of India. He was appointed as Legal Remembrancer-cum-Principal Secretary (Law) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh with effect from June 2005 till his elevation as Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on November 27, 2006.

   
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Karol, Judge

Born in Shimla on 23.8.1961. Educated from St.Edward School, Shimla, B.A. (Hons) from Government College, Shimla, LL.B. from H.P. University, Shimla. Native Village Garli, Tehsil Dehra Gopipur, District Kangra, H.P.

Enrolled as an Advocate in 1986. Practised in the Supreme Court and various Courts in India. Became Advocate General of State of Himachal Pradesh in 1998 at a young age of 36 ½ years and remained as such upto 2003. Conducted Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, taxation matters and was on the Senior Penal of Central Government and was also Chief Law Advisor of Delhi Cantonment Board. Specializes in Corporate, Constitutional and Commercial matters.  Elevated as Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla on 8th March, 2007 at the age of 45 ½ years.

   
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kuldip Singh, Judge

Born on 17.1.1952. After completing LLB. From Punjab University, C:handigarh, enrolled as an Advocate on 28.7.1975 and joined father Late Shri Dalip Singh, Advocate, at (Nahan. Practiced in District Courts at Nahan for about two years and thereafter shifted to Shimla. Initially practiced in District Courts and High Court but later on exclusively in the High Court. Designated Senior Advocate on 25.10.1999. 

 

Elected Vice President and then President of HP. High Court Bar Association, nominated Member High Court Legal Services Committee, appointed by the High Court Member of Rules Committee for suggesting proposals to regulate the procedure in the High Court and Civil Courts subordinate to High Court under Section 123 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Conducted cases on Constitutional, Service, Labour, Motor Accident Claims and also Company matters as well as original side in the High Court. Represented Himachal Pradesh  Financial Corporation, H.P. Agro Industries  Corporation, Punjab State Electricity Board, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, Indian Institute of Advance Studies, Power Grid Corporation of India etc. Elevated as Additional Judge of High Court of Himachal Pradesh on 3.4.2007.

   
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma, Judge
Born on 8.10.1958.  Obtained LL.B. Degree from Himachal Pradesh University.  Enrolled as Advocate in the year 1982.  Designated Senior Advocate in the year 2002.  Primarily practiced in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Employment Cases and Environmental Law.  Visited U.S.A., China, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Dubai, New Zealand, U.K., Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and France.  Appointed Additional Judge, High Court of Himachal Pradesh on 3rd April, 2007.
Hon'ble Mr. Justice V. K. Sharma, Judge

Born on 8 August, 1952. Received early education by securing first position in the school at primary and matriculation level. Thereafter, educated at G.G.D.S.D. College, Baijnath, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh and Faculty of Law, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. Completed B.A. LL.B. degree with first class first and was awarded gold medals for topping B.L. and LL.B. examinations.

Held various positions of responsibility at the College and University level, including General Secretary, Students Central Association, G.G.D.S.D. College (1971-72); Secretary, Himachal Pradesh University Students Council (1974-75); Member, Himachal Pradesh University Court (1974-75); Member, Himachal Pradesh University Executive Council (1974-77) and was probably the first student to be elected to the highest decision making body of an Indian University.

Began legal practice in 1976. Practised before the High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla and District and Sub-Divisional Courts at Dharamshala and Palampur, District Kangra, between August 1976 and January 1991, on the Criminal, Civil and Revenue side. During this period, was retained as counsel by Northern Railway (1985-1990) and public sector banks. Also served as Secretary (1982-83) and President (1989- 1990) of the Bar Association, Palampur, District Kangra.

Joined Himachal Pradesh Higher Judicial Service on 2 February, 1991 as Additional District and Sessions Judge. Was designated as District and Sessions Judge in April 1995 and held various positions, including that of Registrar General of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. During this period, also worked in varied capacities, including Presiding Officer, Himachal Pradesh Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court; Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority; District and Sessions Judge (Forest); President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Shimla, etc., and had the occasion to deal with diverse areas of law.

Was appointed as Commission of Inquiry, in January 2000, to look into the incident of alleged lathi charge by police on members of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Transport Union, Barmana, District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

Delivered lectures at several conferences and training programmes, including those organised by Himachal Pradesh State Judicial Academy and Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration. Also delivered radio and television talks on legal services and consumer rights. Participated in numerous seminars, colloquia, conferences, workshops, training programmes, etc.

Appointed Additional Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on 7 January, 201
0.

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary, Judge

Born on 12 March, 1958 in Village Lohara, Tehsil Sadar, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh in an Agriculturist family.  After completing Primary Education from Government Primary School, Lohara, did matriculation from Government High School, Hatgarh, District Mandi.  Graduated from Government Degree College, Kullu and obtained the degree of LL.B. from Himachal Pradesh University, in the year 1983.

Enrolled as an Advocate on May 10, 1983. Practiced in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in Civil, Criminal, Constitutional, Labour, Company and Service matters.  Held the position as Treasurer of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association during the year 1986-87 and Secretary during the years 1989-90 and 1990-91.  Remained Vice- President and President of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association during the year 1993-94 and 1994-95. 

Appointed as Additional Standing Counsel to Central Government in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on 7.3.1992.  Had been Legal Advisor-cum-Standing Counsel to H.P. Khadi and Village Industries Board, H.P. State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation, H.P. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalya, Palampur in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.  Empanelled as an Advocate on the panel of Advocates by United Commercial Bank to conduct cases on its behalf in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.  Conducted cases on behalf of National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation and Kangra Central Co-operative Bank.  Conducted cases on behalf of Union of India in Central Administrative Tribunal and practiced in Labour and Service matters in the erstwhile H.P. State Administrative Tribunal. Had been a Non Official Member of Council of Law Reporting, High Court of H.P., for a period of three years, from 2.7.1994.

Appointed as Additional District and Sessions Judge, a Member of H.P. Higher Judicial Service by way of direct recruitment and assumed the charge as such on 1.8.1995.  Remained posted as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Kullu and Shimla, District and Sessions Judge (Inspection), High Court of Himachal Pradesh, District and Sessions Judge, Hamirpur and Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti, Civil and Sessions Divisions and also President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul & Spiti Districts.  Transferred and posted as Registrar (Rules)-cum-Principal Secretary to Hon'ble the Chief Justice in December 2006 and Registrar (Vigilance)-cum-Central Project Coordinator under the e-Courts Project of Department of Justice, Govt. of India-cum-Principal Secretary to Hon'ble the Chief Justice, in June 2008.

Remained Registrar General-cum-Principal Secretary to Hon'ble the Chief Justice from 7.10.2010 to 20.1.2012.

Elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and assumed the Office as such on 21.1.2012.

 

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