History made: Justice Ritu Bahri sworn in as first Woman Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court

In a historic moment on Sunday, Justice Ritu Bahri was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court. The ceremony, held at Raj Bhawan in Dehradun, saw Governor Lt Gen (retd) Gurmit Singh administering the oath. The event was attended by notable figures, including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Appointment and notification:

Justice Bahri's journey to this significant role began when she was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in October last year. On November 2, 2023, the Supreme Court collegium recommended her as the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court. The official notification from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice on February 2 confirmed her appointment, succeeding former Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi.

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Born on October 11, 1962, in Jalandhar, Punjab, Justice Ritu Bahri comes from a family of distinguished lawyers. Her great-grandfather, late Karam Chand Bahri, and grandfather, late Som Dutt Bahri, were renowned legal practitioners. Her father, Justice Amrit Lal Bahri, retired as a judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1994.

Justice Bahri's educational journey includes schooling at Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh, and graduating in Economics (Hons.) from Government College for Women, Chandigarh, in 1982. She pursued law at Punjab University in 1985, becoming an advocate in 1986. Her legal career soared as she served as Assistant Advocate General, Haryana, in March 1992, Deputy Advocate General, and Senior Advocate General in December 2009. Elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2010, her commitment to the legal profession has been evident.

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Uttarakhand High Court:

Established in 2000 when Uttarakhand was carved out from Uttar Pradesh, the High Court in Nainital initially had Justice Ashok A Desai as its founder Chief Justice.

Justice Ritu Bahri's ascendancy to the position of Chief Justice marks a significant milestone, adding to her already distinguished legal career. Her legacy is not only one of personal achievement but also a beacon for aspiring legal professionals in Uttarakhand and beyond.