In major reshuffle, J&K and Ladakh High Court orders transfer of 76 judicial officers

According to an order issued by Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General at the Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh High Court, 32 district judges, 27 senior division civil judges or subjudges, and 17 junior division civil judges or munsiffs have all been transferred with immediate effect.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): In a major reshuffle, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh ordered the transfers and postings of 76 judicial officers on Wednesday throughout the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. An order has been issued to this effect by Shahzad Azeem, Registrar General at the Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh High Court.

According to the order, 32 district judges, 27 senior division civil judges or subjudges, and 17 junior division civil judges or munsiffs have all been transferred with immediate effect. In addition to the aforementioned judicial officers, nine judicial officers have been given additional responsibilities for fast track courts, vacant courts, and district legal services authorities.

According to the High Court order, the transferee judges have been asked to make sure that all cases that are awaiting judgment or hearing are resolved and judgments or orders are issued in those cases before relocating to their new assignment. Additionally, it has been directed that until their deputation orders are obtained from the government, the officers sent on deputation had to report to the High Court of J&K's Registrar Judicial in Srinagar or Jammu.

Among the officers transferred by the High Court, Bala Jyoti, Prosecuting Officer J&K Labor and Industrial Tribunal has been sent back on deputation and posted as Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court (CBI Cases) in Jammu in place of Ramesh Kumar Watal. Muhammad Yusuf Wani, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Baramulla has been transferred and posted as Member, Jammu and Kashmir Special Tribunal, Srinagar in place of Shujaat Ali Khan on deputation.

Jaafar Hussain Baig, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kathua has been transferred and appointed Principal District and Sessions Judge, Anantnag in place of SC Kittal. Likewise, Abdul Qayoom Mir, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bandipora, is transferred and posted as Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kulgam vice Manzoor Ahmad Zargar.

Rupali Ratta, District Judge, LRP, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Registrar Inspection, High Court Wing Jammu against the available post. Balbir Lal, 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Anantnag against the available vacancy.