Durrez Ahmed appointed Chief Justice of state HC

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 25

Clearing the decks, the Central government has issued a notification confirming the appointment of Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed as the new Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after the President gave his consent.

Justice Durrez Ahmed, one of the senior-most judges of the Delhi High Court, was recommended as the next Chief Justice of the J&K High Court by the Supreme Court collegium last month. Subsequently, the J&K Government had also given its consent to his appointment.

Justice Durrez Ahmed is the son of former President Fakhrudin Ali Ahmed, who served as the President from August 24, 1974 to February 11, 1977.

The formal notification for the appointment was issued by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice on Friday.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 95 of the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed, a judge of the Delhi High Court, to be the Chief Justice of J&K High Court with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office,” reads the notification signed by Rajinder Kashyap, Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Union Ministry of Law and Justice.

Asked when the new Chief Justice is scheduled to take oath, a senior official at the J&K High Courtsaid the date is yet to be decided.

“We are yet to receive the warrant and accordingly the arrangements for the oath-taking ceremony would be finalised,” said the official, adding that the new Chief Justice had not conveyed when he would be assuming the charge.