A quiet yet significant shift unfolded in the corridors of power in Jammu and Kashmir as Justice Arun Palli took oath as the new Chief Justice of the region’s High Court, covering both Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The ceremony, held on Wednesday, was presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who administered the oath of office.
This appointment, greenlit by the Supreme Court Collegium shortly before the retirement of former Chief Justice Tashi Rabistan, marks a new chapter in the region’s judiciary. In the interim, Justice Sanjeev Kumar had been holding the fort as Acting Chief Justice since Rabistan stepped down on April 9.
Before his elevation, Justice Palli served as a judge at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His appointment was officially notified by the Central government on April 12.
Born on September 18, 1964, Justice Palli comes from a legal lineage. His father, Prem Kishan Palli, was not only a Senior Advocate but also served as a judge in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, retiring in 1998.
Justice Palli’s academic journey saw him earn a commerce degree followed by a law degree from Panjab University in 1988. His legal career began at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he built a reputation that eventually led to his appointment as Additional Advocate General for Punjab in 2004—a role he held until 2007. That same year, he was designated a Senior Advocate.
His elevation to the bench came on December 28, 2013. More recently, he served as Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority and was named to the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for a two-year term starting in October 2023.
With decades of legal experience and administrative insight, Justice Palli now steps into a role that will shape the judicial landscape of one of India’s most sensitive and strategically vital regions.
