Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was sworn-in on Wednesday (September 9) as Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

The oath of office was administered to Justice Bhati by Ladakh Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena who is presently also discharging the duties of the Lt. Governor of J&K.

The Central Government had on September 5 notified the appointment of Justice Bhati as J&K&L High Court Chief Justice.

The Supreme Court collegium had recommended Justice Bhati's name who was serving as a Judge of the Rajasthan High Court, to be appointed as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in August.

Prior to his elevation as a judge, Justice Bhati practiced in Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, mainly in Writ Jurisdiction spanning across Service Laws, Public Interest Litigation, Election, Revenue, Mining, Education, Panchayati Raj, Family, Criminal and miscellaneous matters.

He was an Additional Advocate General for Rajasthan in the high court from 13.10.2008 to 29.12.2008 and 06.01.2014 till elevation. He remained a Panel Lawyer for Kendriya Vidhyalaya Sangthan, OIL & Natural Gas Corporation, Labour Department (Govt. of Raj.), Ayurved Department (Govt. of Raj.). Represented Reserve Bank of India, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur and many other bodies. Was Standing Counsel for Indian Railways for 16 years.

He was elevated as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court on November 16, 2016.