Uttarakhand High Court
Established9 November 2000; 22 years ago (2000-11-09)
JurisdictionUttarakhand
LocationNainital, Uttarakhand
Coordinates29°23′45″N 79°26′52″E / 29.3958°N 79.4477°E / 29.3958; 79.4477Coordinates: 29°23′45″N 79°26′52″E / 29.3958°N 79.4477°E / 29.3958; 79.4477
Composition methodPresidential with confirmation of Chief Justice of India and Governor of Uttarakhand
Authorized byConstitution of India
Judge term lengthmandatory retirement by age of 62
Number of positions11
(9 Permanent Judges + 2 Additional Judges)
WebsiteUttarakhand High Court
Chief Justice
CurrentlyVipin Sanghi
Since28 June 2022

The Uttarakhand High Court is the High Court of the state of Uttarakhand in India. The building of Uttarakhand High Court was constructed by Santoni MacDonald in 1900.

The Uttarakhand State was carved out from the State of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000 under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. At the time of the creation of the State, the High Court of Uttarakhand was also established on the same day at Nainital.[1]

The sanctioned judge strength at the time of creation in 2000 was 7; this was increased to 9 in 2003. Justice Ashok Desai was the inaugural holder of the office. Former Chief Justices of Uttarakhand Sarosh Homi Kapadia and Jagdish Singh Khehar later went on to become Chief Justice of India. Vipin Sanghi is the current Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. He assumed office on 28 June 2022.[2]

List of sitting judges of the Uttarakhand High Court

There are currently six sitting judges including the Chief Justice, with five posts of judges lying vacant.[3] Following is the list of the current serving judges of the Uttarakhand High Court, ordered by seniority.

No. Name Date of Appointment Date of Retirement Type of Vacancy Parent High Court
Permanent Judges
1 Vipin Sanghi
(Chief Justice)
29 May 2006 26 October 2023 Bench Delhi
2 Sanjaya Kumar Mishra 7 October 2009 28 December 2023 Orissa
3 Manoj Kumar Tiwari 19 May 2017 18 September 2027 Bar Uttarakhand
4 Sharad Kumar Sharma 31 December 2023
5 Ravindra Maithani 3 December 2018 24 June 2027 Bench
6 Alok Kumar Verma 27 May 2019 15 August 2026
7 Vacant
8 Vacant
9 Vacant
Additional Judges
1 Vacant
2 Vacant

Registrar General

Vivek Bharti Sharma is the current Registrar General of the Uttarakhand High Court. He Assumed office on 4 April 2022.

Landmark judgements

Status of rivers as legal persons

See also: Pollution of the Ganges

In March 2017, Uttarakhand High Court mandated that the rivers Ganges and Yamuna as well as all water bodies are "living entities" i.e. "legal person" and appointed 3 persons as trustees to protect the rights of rivers against the pollution caused by the humans.[4]

Rohit Sagar v. State of Uttarakhand

Main article: Rohit Sagar v. State of Uttarakhand

Rohit Sagar v. State of Uttarakhand (2021) is case where Uttarakhand High Court held that the legal adult have the fundamental right to choose their own partners and directed the Uttarakhand Police to provide necessary protection for the individuals and their property.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Uttaranchal High Court Inaugurated". Zee News. 9 November 2000.
  2. ^ "Uttarakhand Highcourt के नए मुख्य न्यायाधीश विपिन सांघी 28 जून को लेंगे शपथ, जानिए- उनसे जुड़ी अहम बातें". abp. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. ^ Sitting judges of the Uttarakhand High Court
  4. ^ Birds to holy rivers: A list of everything India considers “legal persons”, Quartz, September 2019.
  5. ^ Rohit Sagar & Anor. versus State of Uttarakhand & Ors., Writ Petition (CRL) No. 2254 of 2021 (Uttarakhand High Court 16 December 2021).
  6. ^ Jha, Prashant. "Uttarakhand High Court grants police protection to gay couple threatened by parents". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 23 September 2022.