Punjab govt. objects to appointment of Ashwani Kumar Mishra as HC chief justice, asks Centre to stop oath ceremony
An official statement after the meeting of the State cabinet said it had resolved that the appointment and administration of oath should be put on hold until Punjab's views are obtained and duly considered.
The Punjab Government has objected to the Centre's decision to appoint Ashwani Kumar Mishra as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Appearing to bypass constitutional norms, the Centre notified the appointment on September 5, 2026, without obtaining the state's views. Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written to the President and Prime Minister, urging them to halt the oath ceremony scheduled for September 7, 2026, until the state's concerns are addressed.
However, Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain dismissed the Punjab government's objections as "most unfortunate and totally uncalled for". Jain stated that the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment on August 6 and all states, except Punjab, responded within a week. Jain emphasized that states do not possess veto power over these appointments.
The Punjab Cabinet, in an emergency meeting, resolved to put the appointment and oath ceremony on hold until the state's views are considered.
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