The Union of India on Tuesday approved the appointment of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan as acting Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court with effect from April 20.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju made the announcement this morning on Twitter.
“As per the provisions under the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President has appointed Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, senior-most puisne Judge of Himachal Pradesh High Court as the acting Chief Justice of the same High Court w.e.f. 20.04.2023. I extend my best wishes to him,” he tweeted.
Justice Chauhan is the senior-most puisne judge of the High Court. He will take over after incumbent acting Chief Justice, Justice Sabina, demits office on April 19. She was appointed as acting Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in January this year.
In February, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the appointment of Justice Sabina as Chief Justice of the same High Court.
Howver, the Centre was yet to approve the proposal.
Justice Chauhan was born on January 9, 1964 in Rohru Tehsil of Himachal Pradesh. He did his schooling at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and graduated with Honours from DAV College, Chandigarh.
He pursued a degree in Law from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh in 1989.
He started practice in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in all branches of law. Prior to the elevation, he was Standing Counsel-cum-Legal Advisor to HP State Electricity Board Ltd and before that was Standing Counsel-cum-Legal Advisor to HP State Civil Supplies Corporation.
Justice Chauhan conducted cases of various departments including Boards, Corporations, Financial Institutions, Public and Private Companies, Educational Institutions and Cooperative Societies, etc. He had also been actively associated with the Legal Aid Programmes.
He remained a member of various Lok Adalats and was appointed Amicus Curiae by the High Court in many important cases relating to the violation of environmental laws by the hydel projects and ropeways, ban on plastic and tobacco products, implementation of solid waste management projects and framing of road construction policy in Himachal Pradesh.
He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and assumed the office on February 23, 2014, and took oath as Judge of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh on November 30, 2014.