Sindhu Sharma Becomes J&K High Court’s First Woman Judge

Sharma, who enrolled with the Bar in 1996, has practiced in the district courts and the J&K high court.

Sindhu Sharma to become first woman judge of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/दिनेश दीक्षित)

In a first, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) High Court will have a woman judge as the Centre notified the appointment of advocate Sindhu Sharma on Friday, 3 August along with judicial officer Rashid Ali Dar, reported Bar & Bench.

The appointment of Sindhu Sharma marks an important step for the J&K High Court as in its 90 years of existence, the court had 107 judges - who were all men.

In 2014, Sharma also became the first lady advocate from the J&K High Court to have been appointed an assistant solicitor general of India. After her initial appointment as ASG in 2014, her tenure was further renewed for a period of three years in November 2017, according to Bar & Bench.

She enrolled with the Bar in 1996, after obtaining her LLB. degree from Punjab University in Chandigarh. She has also practiced in the district courts and the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Sharma was also elected as the vice president of the J&K High Court Bar Association in 2013 for a term of two years.

Last month, the Supreme Court collegium recommended acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Gita Mittal for appointment as the next Chief Justice of the J&K High Court.

If the Centre gives a nod to this resolution, then the state’s high court could also get its first women chief justice.

(With inputs from Bar & Bench.)