HC reconstitutes panel on service conditions of district judiciary

Srinagar Jan 27: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Tuesday reconstituted the Committee on Service Conditions of the District Judiciary following the retirement of one of the members of the panel, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul.

The reconstituted committee will comprise Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Muhammad Akram Chowdhary as its members, according to an order issued by Registrar General M K Sharma.

The Secretary to the Government, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Secretary, Law and Justice, Union Territory of Ladakh are also part of the panel, the order said.

The Registrar General has been designated as the ex-officio secretary of the committee, Registrar (Rules) as the Presenting Officer, Retired District and Sessions Judge Pawan Dev Kotwal as the Nodal Officer.

The order further states that the Chairperson may co-opt officers of the governments of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Secretaries from the Home, Health, Personnel and Public Works departments, whenever issues pertaining to these departments are taken up for deliberation and implementation.

The order has been circulated to all concerned authorities, including judicial officers and government departments, for information and necessary action.

The original committee was constituted in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court issued on January 4, 2024, in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 643 of 2015, titled All India Judges Association vs Union of India & Others.