Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday morning.

Justice Mishra was administered the oath of office despite the Punjab government's opposition to his elevation as the Chief Justice.

The State government on Sunday said that the Central government should not have notified Justice Mishra's appointment without awaiting its response on his suitability.

While Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was conspicuous by his absence at the oath ceremony today, his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini was present. Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh was also present at the ceremony.

Justice Mishra, who was appointed a judge of the Allahabad High Court in February 2014, has been posted at the Punjab and Haryana High Court since July 2025.

He has been serving as the Acting Chief Justice since June. The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended Justice Mishra’s elevation on August 6. The Central government cleared the recommendation on September 5 and notified Justice Mishra’s appointment as Chief Justice.

A day later, the Punjab cabinet convened an emergency meeting and passed a resolution against Justice Mishra's elevation.

In the resolution, the government urged the Governor not to administer the oath to Justice Mishra until the government gives its consent for the elevation.

"Taking serious exception to the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court without awaiting the views of the Punjab Government, the Cabinet resolved that the appointment and administration of oath should be put on hold until Punjab’s views are obtained and duly considered," the government said in a statement.