Chandigarh/Jalandhar: A controversy has erupted over the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as the new Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema alleging that established procedures and conventions were not followed and that the interests of Punjab were overlooked.

Addressing a press conference in Jalandhar on Sunday, Cheema said appointments to important constitutional positions in High Courts generally take into account prescribed procedures and regional balance. However, he alleged that these conventions were bypassed in the appointment of Justice Mishra by the Central Government and the Supreme Court.

The Punjab government has called an emergency Cabinet meeting at 4 pm on Sunday to discuss the matter. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has not issued any response on the controversy so far.

Harpal Cheema questions appointment process

Cheema alleged that the procedure followed in the appointment of the new Chief Justice was different from the process adopted in an earlier case involving Justice GS Sandhawalia, who is from Punjab.

According to the minister, when Justice Sandhawalia was appointed Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, his appointment was kept on hold by the then Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh for more than two months.

Cheema said no decision was taken on the matter during that period. Subsequently, the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium recommended Justice Sandhawalia’s appointment to the Himachal Pradesh High Court instead.

The Finance Minister cited this episode while questioning the process followed in Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra’s appointment.

Punjab alleges state interests were overlooked

Cheema said the issue surrounding Justice Mishra’s appointment had emerged around two weeks ago and alleged that the Centre proceeded with the appointment without following the established procedure.

He argued that regional representation and established conventions are important when appointments are made to senior constitutional positions in High Courts.

The minister claimed that Punjab’s interests were ignored in the latest appointment, leading to dissatisfaction among people in the state as well as members of the legal fraternity.

Emergency Cabinet meeting at 4 pm

The Punjab government has convened an emergency Cabinet meeting at 4 pm to deliberate on the appointment controversy and the concerns raised by the state government.

The development comes amid questions from the Punjab government over the process through which Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was appointed Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

There has been no response from the Punjab and Haryana High Court so far regarding the allegations raised by the Punjab Finance Minister.