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Recommends Yash Paul Bourney as Judge of J&K and Ladakh High Court
The has cleared the way for Yash Paul Bourney to ascend to the , approving his from the district judiciary at its September 10 meeting.
From the to the High Court Bench
Bourney's journey to the High Court is one defined by steady progression through the ranks of the Jammu and Kashmir judicial service. Born on August 25, 1967, he entered the judicial service on , marking the beginning of a career that would span nearly three decades. In 2011, he was inducted into the , and over the years, he held several increasingly senior positions within the and judicial administration.
Before his current posting, Bourney served as Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu. In , he was transferred on to serve as a Member of the , Jammu, where he currently presides. He belongs to the District and Sessions Judge cadre in the .
The 's Nod
The 's recommendation follows the 's earlier proposal, submitted under the chairmanship of the then Chief Justice Arun Palli. Bourney's name was put forward earlier this year as part of a list of 11 candidates recommended for . He was the sole among those recommended; the remaining ten candidates were advocates from .
The 's resolution was characteristically brief, stating simply:
"The
in its meeting held on
has approved the proposal for appointment of Shri Yash Paul Bourney,
, as a Judge of the
."
First Among Eleven to Clear the Apex Level
Bourney's clearance by the marks a significant milestone — he is the first among the 11 candidates recommended by the High Court to receive approval at the highest level. The remaining ten names from remain pending with the , making Bourney the initial success story from this round of recommendations.
More Than a Judge: An Educator on the Bench
Beyond his judicial duties, Bourney has maintained close ties with the , contributing to the professional growth of his peers. In 2022, he chaired a technical session at a Judicial Academy programme focused on judgment writing and the application of law, reflecting a commitment to elevating the quality of judicial reasoning across the .
What Lies Ahead
With the 's recommendation now formalized, the proposal will proceed to the for further processing, ultimately culminating in his formal appointment as a judge of the . For Bourney, this represents the culmination of a judicial career built over nearly 30 years of service. For the High Court, it brings to the bench a judge with deep experience in the district judiciary, a familiarity with the region's legal landscape, and a demonstrated commitment to judicial education.
