Justice Ritu Bahri: First Female Chief Justice of Uttarakhand

February 4, 2024

Justice Bahri has been sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court by Governor Lieutenant General Gurmeet Singh (Retd.) at Raj Bhavan. The post had been vacant since the retirement of Justice Vipin Sanghi in October 2023. Justice Bahri was serving as a Judge at the Punjab and Haryana High Court before being appointed as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand. She is the first woman to hold the position of Chief Justice in the state.

Justice Ritu Bahri

Justice Ritu Bahri was born on October 11, 1962 in Jalandhar, Punjab. She belongs to a family of renowned lawyers. Her great grandfather Late Shri Karam Chand Bahri was a well-known lawyer in his time. Her grandfather Late Shri Som Dutt Bahri was also a lawyer and a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Punjab from 1952-1957. Her father Honourable Mr. Justice Amrit Lal Bahri retired as a Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in 1994.

Justice Bahri did her schooling from Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh and graduated with a degree in Economics (Hons.) from Government College for Women, Chandigarh in 1982 securing first division. She then acquired her law degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh in 1985, again securing first division.

Legal Career

Justice Bahri enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana in 1986 and started practicing law in the Punjab & Haryana High Court. She was appointed Assistant Advocate General of Haryana in March 1992. Subsequently, she was appointed Deputy Advocate General of Haryana in August 1999 and Senior Advocate General of Haryana in December 2009.

As the State counsel for Haryana, she handled several cases related to service matters, land acquisition, taxation, revenue, labour and motor accident claims. She was elevated as a Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court on August 16, 2010.

About Uttarakhand High Court

Uttarakhand High Court is was established in 2000 after Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, it has its main seat in Nainital. It has jurisdiction over the whole state and is instrumental in the interpretation and enforcement of laws and the Constitution. It has sanctioned judge strength of 11.

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