After 4 years of delay, Centre to clear appointment of Sadiq Wasim Nagral as judge of J&K High Court

Conventionally, the government is bound to accept the recommendation of the Collegium if the decision has been reiterated.

Sources told The Indian Express that the government was persuaded to consider the recommendation that will make Nagral the first Muslim judge from Jammu since high court’s inception in 1928. Nagral has served as the Senior Additional Advocate General of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. As a Central government counsel, he has represented security forces, including the Army, BSF and CRPF before the High Court.

The delay, however, will impact the appointment. Eleven judges were appointed to the HC after Nagral’s name was recommended. Nagral, who was 49 when recommended by the Supreme Court for elevation, would have had more than 12 years as a permanent High Court judge and, by convention of seniority, would have been a potential Chief Justice of a High Court in the country. Now, he will have a tenure of over 7 years.

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has a sanctioned strength of 17 judges. It currently has 15 judges, including Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal, who is originally from the Allahabad High Court.

Nagral’s appointment is yet another boost to the Jammu Bar, with the High Court already dominated by judges from Jammu.

Hailing from Katra town, Nagral had his schooling from Dewan Badri Nath Vidya Mandir, Jammu. After completing his graduation from Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu, and Law degree from Jammu University, he started law practice in March 1991.

(With inputs from Arun Sharma in Jammu)