The Central government has officially announced the appointment of Justice Ritu Bahri as the Acting Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, and this appointment will come into effect on October 14.

She will take on her new role starting from October 14, following the retirement of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha, who is set to leave his position on October 13.

The Union Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification confirming this on October 12.

The notification stated that, under the authority granted by Article 223 of the Indian Constitution, the President has appointed Kumari Justice Ritu Bahri as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, following the retirement of Shri Justice Ravi Shanker Jha, the previous Chief Justice, on 13th October 2023. Kumari Justice Ritu Bahri will assume her duties as Chief Justice on 14th October 2023.

Justice Bahri was appointed as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 16, 2010. She started her legal career after obtaining her law degree from Panjab University in 1985. In 1986, she enrolled as an advocate and practiced in the High Court until her elevation to the position of judge.

Justice Shanker, who is retiring this week, assumed the role of Chief Justice of the High Court in October 2019. He began his tenure as a High Court judge in October 2005, initially serving at the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Read notification: Justice Ritu Bahri appointment