Punjab Government Blocks Oath for New High Court Chief Justice

On the evening of September 6, 2026, the Punjab cabinet convened and, after a brisk discussion, passed a resolution that effectively put a freeze on the swearing‑in of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The state argued that the Centre had moved ahead without waiting for Punjab’s formal opinion – a step the cabinet says sidesteps established constitutional practice.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann didn’t stop at the cabinet note. He drafted two separate letters – one to President Droupadi Murmu and another to Prime Minister Narendra Modi – urging them to delay the oath ceremony slated for September 7. “We request that the administration of the oath be postponed until our concerns are duly addressed,” the letters read, underscoring a tone that was part grievance, part plea.

The controversy has sparked a sharp rejoinder from the Centre. Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain described the Punjab protest as “most unfortunate and totally uncalled for,” insisting that the state had ample opportunity to submit its view. He reminded everyone that the Supreme Court collegium, on August 6, had already recommended Mishra’s name along with seven other judges slated for chief‑justice posts across the country.

According to Jain, every other state government complied within a week, sending back their observations. “No one has the right to sit on a proposal indefinitely to scuttle a judicial process and politicise a non‑political issue,” he said, warning against turning a routine appointment into a political theatre.

While the Centre maintains that procedural norms were followed, Punjab’s leaders remain unconvinced. They point to what they call a breach of the “consultative” spirit embedded in the appointment mechanism – a spirit meant to balance the judiciary’s independence with a modest role for elected governments.

As of now, the oath ceremony hangs in limbo. Whether the President will heed the state’s appeal or proceed as scheduled remains to be seen, and the episode has already ignited a broader debate on how much say a state should have in the elevation of senior judges.

For now, the legal community watches closely, aware that any delay could set a precedent, not just for Punjab, but for the delicate dance between the judiciary and the political executive across India.