SRINAGAR: The Collegium of the High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has recommended 11 persons for appointment as judges of the High Court, including 10 lawyers and one judicial officer, Bar and Bench reported.
Among those recommended is Tabasum Zafar, whose elevation, if approved, would mark the first instance of a Kashmiri woman being appointed to the High Court Bench.
The other lawyers recommended are Vishal Sharma, Namgyal Wangchuk, Jahangir Iqbal Ganai, Pawan Kumar Kundal, Tahir Majid Shamsi, Anupam Raina, Vikram Kumar Sharma, Amit Gupta and Pranav Kohli.
The judicial officer recommended for elevation is Yash Paul Bourney.
Sources indicated that the selection process involved an extensive consultative exercise, with merit, integrity, competence and standing at the Bar as the primary considerations. The Collegium is also understood to have taken into account regional and social representation, including representation from the Kashmir Bar and the Union Territory of Ladakh, with inclusion from the Buddhist community. Consideration was also given to representation from Kashmiri Pandit, Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities.
The recommendations come amid a significant number of vacancies in the High Court. In November 2024, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, enhanced the sanctioned strength of the High Court from 17 to 25 judges, comprising 19 permanent and six additional judges. The High Court is presently functioning with 13 judges, leaving 12 posts vacant.
