Justice Magrey to be the new Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey, the son of the soil to become the new Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. 

Justice Magrey would succeed the incumbent Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal on being appointed by the President of India. Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal has been recommended to be transferred to the High Court of Rajasthan by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Uday Umesh Lalit, Chief Justice of India.

Justice Magrey would be the first local to be appointed after 2019, and also the 35th Chief Justice of the High Court. In his illustrious career, he was appointed as a permanent judge of the high court on 8th March 2013. He has decided on the merits of over 26,000 issue-based litigations on policy matters of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the Centre and matters involving large public exchequer. Around 600 of these 26,000 cases have been reported in state and national law journals.

Justice Magrey was born on 8th December 1960 in Damhal Hanjipora's Wattoo village situated in Kulgam district of South Kashmir. Justice Magrey pursued his school education in his native village and completed his graduation and LLB (Hons) at the University of Kashmir.

He was enrolled as an advocate in 1984 and began practicing law in district courts including tribunals and revenue courts. Simultaneously, he started conducting matters in the High Court while also being the standing counsel starting from 1986 for the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Financial Corporation, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, SIDCO, J&K Service Selection Board, Power Development Department, and Jammu and Kashmir Wakf Board.

Justice Magrey also conducted important Public Interest Litigations (PILs) on matters concerning the constitution, tax, civil, service and arbitration. He was appointed as Permanent Judge of High Court of J&K on 7th March 2013.