Srinagar, Sept. 9 -- Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was sworn in on Wednesday as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, with Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena administering the oath of office in Srinagar.

Bhati's swearing-in followed his appointment by President Droupadi Murmu on September 5 as Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He succeeded Justice Sanjeev Kumar, who had been serving as Acting Chief Justice since June 2.

The oath was administered by Saxena, who is presently also discharging the functions of the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor during the absence on leave of incumbent LG Manoj Sinha. The President appointed Saxena to hold the additional responsibil...