SRINAGAR, SEPT 22: Senior Judicial Officer Yash Paul Bourney was on Tuesday sworn in as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at a solemn ceremony held at the Chief Justice’s Court at the Srinagar wing of the High Court.
Chief Justice Dr Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati administered the oath of office to Justice Yash Paul Bourney.
The Warrant of Appointment was read out by M.K. Sharma, Registrar General, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, who also conducted the proceedings.
The ceremony was attended by Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri, Justice Mohd. Yousuf Wani and Justice Sanjay Parihar. Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Sanjay Dhar, Justice Rahul Bharti, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi and Justice Shahzad Azeem joined the ceremony virtually from the Jammu wing of the High Court.
Family members, close relatives and friends of Justice Bourney were also present.
Several senior civil, police and judicial officials, along with members of the legal fraternity, attended the ceremony.
Those present included Mir Syed Latif, Judicial Member (HOD), Central Administrative Tribunal, Srinagar Bench; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary; M.K. Sinha, ADGP CID; Achal Sethi, Commissioner Secretary, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; IGP Kashmir; IGP Security; senior advocates; Executive Members of the Kashmir Advocates’ Association and J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu; Law Officers, Judicial Officers and officers of the High Court Registry.
The Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, issued the notification on September 19, 2026, appointing Yash Paul Bourney as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Born on August 25, 1967, Justice Bourney is a native of Dadwara village, Bhaddu, Billawar, in Kathua district. During his judicial career, he has handled several significant judicial and administrative responsibilities across the Union Territory.
He served as Principal District and Sessions Judge at Leh, Baramulla, Udhampur and Jammu, besides holding the positions of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, and Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu.
Justice Bourney has also served in important institutional assignments, including Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority; Registrar Vigilance, High Court of J&K and Ladakh; and Director, J&K Judicial Academy.
Following his tenure as Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, he was appointed on deputation as Member, J&K Special Tribunal, Jammu. He was serving in that capacity immediately before his elevation to the High Court.
The swearing-in ceremony formally marked Justice Bourney’s elevation to the High Court Bench following a long judicial career involving district-level judicial administration, anti-corruption adjudication, legal services and important institutional responsibilities.
