Mr Justice Vijender Kumar Jain is hugged by his sister after he was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Haryana Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
— Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari |
Chandigarh, November 28
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today got its 27th Chief Justice in Mr Justice Vijender Kumar Jain who was administered the oath of office by the Governor, Haryana, Dr A.R. Kidwai, at a ceremony held at Haryana Raj Bhavan here.
Chief Justice Jain, who was Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court before being appointed Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court takes the place of Mr Justice D.K. Jain who has been elevated to the Supreme Court.
Interacting with mediapersons, the new Chief Justice said his priority would be make available to the common man speedy justice at affordable cost. "This has to percolate down to the grass-roots level also," he added.
Earlier, at a brief ceremony, the Chief Secretary, Haryana, Mr Prem Prashant, read out the warrant of appointment of the new Chief Justice issued by the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on November 24.
Chief Justice Jain brings with him vast experience, both as Judge and lawyer. He earned acclaim due to his pro-active role while dealing with a wide range of issues concerning the common man during his term as Judge of the Delhi High Court.
He has to his credit many outstanding judgments in his 13-year-old career as High Court Judge. Benches headed by him have heard important cases, including the Jessica Lall murder case in which the court took suo moto cognisance of the decision of the lower court to let off the main accused due to lack of evidence, the demolition of unauthorised structures and removal of encroachments from the banks of the Yamuna, Delhi's stray cattle menace, etc.
He was recently invited by the Supreme Court of Thailand to share his experience to help in setting up of Green Benches in Thailand.
In fact, he is one of the Indian Judges whose judgment on Intellectual Property Rights has been reported in foreign journal, Fleet Street.
Among those present at the brief ceremony were the Governor, Punjab, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), the Chief Minister, Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as the Delhi High Court, ministers of Punjab and Haryana and lawyers.
