Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati has been elevated as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, in a significant development in the higher judiciary.

Justice Bhati, who is currently serving as a judge of the Rajasthan High Court, is a senior judge with extensive judicial experience. According to the Rajasthan High Court's official directory, he was elevated to the Bench on November 16, 2016.

His elevation comes at a time when the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is functioning under an Acting Chief Justice. The official High Court website currently lists Justice Sanjeev Kumar as Acting Chief Justice.

The appointment will bring Justice Bhati to the head of the High Court that exercises jurisdiction over the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati

Justice Bhati holds a B.A., LL.B. and LL.M. in Mercantile Law, besides a Ph.D. on “Promotion & Seniority in Public Employment, its Changing Dimensions and Role of Supreme Court.” He enrolled as an advocate in 1992 before being elevated to the Rajasthan High Court in 2016.

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court's official website has recently issued its current roster for the period August 31 to October 31, 2026, reflecting the institution's ongoing judicial administration.

Justice Bhati's elevation marks an important change in the leadership of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court and adds to the recent movement of senior High Court judges to Chief Justice positions.