Srinagar: In a significant administrative move aimed at “streamlining judicial functioning”, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday ordered a series of transfers and postings of judicial officers across the Union Territory.
As per Order No. 651 of 2026/RG dated May 4, issued by Registrar General M.K. Sharma, the reshuffle affects several senior judicial positions, including Principal District Judges, Additional Sessions Judges, and Presiding Officers of specialized tribunals.
Among the prominent changes, Renu Dogra, Principal Judge, Family Court Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as Presiding Officer of the Fast Track Court (POCSO) in Jammu. In her place, Mehreen Mushtaq, who was serving as Additional Sessions Judge in the Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, has been appointed as the new Principal Judge, Family Court Srinagar.
In another key development, Sandeep Gandotra, District Judge (Leave Reserve), High Court Wing Jammu, has been deputed as Presiding Officer of the Labour and Industrial Tribunal, J&K, replacing Manoj Parihar. Parihar, in turn, has been posted as One Man Forest Authority against a vacant position.
The order also affects changes in the district judiciary.
Ahsan Ullah Parvez Malik, Principal District and Sessions Judge Poonch, has been transferred as Additional District and Sessions Judge Bandipora.
Consequently, Sushil Singh, previously serving as Additional District and Sessions Judge Poonch, has been elevated to Principal District and Sessions Judge Poonch. Meanwhile, Mir Wajahat has been shifted from Bandipora to Poonch as Additional District and Sessions Judge.
Further, Tabasum, Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, has been transferred to serve as Sub Judge in the LRP, High Court Wing Srinagar. Replacing her, Touseef Ahmad Magrey, who was serving as Joint Registrar Inspection in the High Court Wing Srinagar, has been appointed as the new Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar.
In a minor reshuffle, Shafeeq Ahmad, Special Mobile Magistrate Poonch, and Asma Chowdhary, Secretary DLSA Samba, will swap their postings.
The order also assigns the charge of the Additional Sessions Judge, Anti-Corruption Srinagar, to the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Srinagar until further arrangements.
Additionally, Raja Arshad Hamid, Principal Magistrate JJB Srinagar, has been given additional charge of Principal Magistrate JJB Bandipora, with directions to attend the Bandipora office periodically as per a roster.
The High Court has directed all transferred judicial officers to complete pending judgments and part-heard matters before assuming their new assignments. They have also been instructed to properly hand over charge to available officers before moving.
The administrative reshuffle is seen as part of the High Court’s ongoing efforts “to ensure efficiency, accountability, and effective dispensation of justice across the Union Territory”.
