A Historical First, 19 Women Judges on PHHC Bench

August

2026

For the first time in its more than 100-year-old history, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) has 19 women judges on its bench, following the swearing-in of nine additional judges. On 20 Aug, the union government notified the appointment of nine additional judges, three months after the Supreme Court of India cleared the names of advocates for elevation. Women now account for nearly 30% of the sitting judges. The increased representation of women is expected to contribute to greater diversity of perspectives, particularly in matters concerning women, children, and gender justice. The PHHC, which exercises jurisdiction over Panjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, is among the largest constitutional courts in India. It was earlier functioning with only 55 judges against a sanctioned strength of 85. Additionally, the PHHC directed all Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) and Police Commissioners in Panjab to submit details of First Information Reports (FIRs) by 14 Oct, in which investigations have been pending for more than three years. The court has also sought the reasons for the delay and directed that meetings be convened with all Station House Officers to issue directions to expedite investigations in such criminal cases. A report filed by SSP (Amritsar Rural) revealed that investigations in 565 FIRs have been pending for more than three years, while 1,168 accused have not been arrested, and only 48 accused have been declared as proclaimed offenders/proclaimed persons. The PHHC also directed the Panjab and Haryana governments to file complete details of cases instituted against Members of Parliament & Members of Legislative Assemblies by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and the Income Tax Department. Statistics produced in the PHHC reveal that as of 31 Jul, 59 cases were pending in Haryana, 66 cases in Panjab, and 10 cases in Chandigarh. Furthermore, the PHHC sought a status report from the Panjab police on the investigation into an FIR against a 25-year-old student, Gagandeep Singh from Gurdaspur, over an alleged threatening comment on an Instagram post of Udhayveer Singh Randhawa, son of former Panjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Gagandeep has claimed that the pending FIR is affecting his education, career, and prospects as nearly a year has passed since it was registered without the investigation being completed (earlier coverage).