Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday, September 7, 2026. His appointment was cleared by the Centre after being recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium in August. He had been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the court since June 1, 2026, after then Chief Justice Sheel Nagu was elevated to the Supreme Court. Justice Mishra completed his BA (Honours) in Economics from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. He subsequently obtained his LLB from the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi. He enrolled as an advocate on May 8, 1993, and initially practised mainly in civil, constitutional and service related matters. During his legal career, he represented several government bodies and public sector organisations, including NOIDA, the Ghaziabad Development Authority, IFFCO, Indian Oil Corporation and the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation.

Mishra was designated a Senior Advocate in 2013, marking another significant step in his legal career. He was appointed an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court on February 3, 2014, and became a permanent judge on February 1, 2016. He continued serving at the Allahabad High Court for more than nine years. In July 2025, he was transferred from the Allahabad High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court and joined the Chandigarh based court on July 21, 2025. After serving as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mishra was appointed its Acting Chief Justice in June 2026. The Supreme Court Collegium subsequently recommended him for the permanent Chief Justice position at its August 6 meeting. The Centre notified his appointment on September 5, and he took the oath two days later.

His appointment has also triggered a political controversy. The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, passed a resolution objecting to the appointment, arguing that the Centre had proceeded without waiting for the state's response. Mann did not attend the oath taking ceremony. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, however, was present. The dispute has added a political dimension to what is otherwise a significant judicial appointment. With Justice Mishra now heading the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he takes charge of one of the country's important constitutional courts. His career spans legal practice, senior advocacy and more than a decade of judicial service across two High Courts. His appointment also places him among the newly appointed High Court Chief Justices who, under the existing seniority trajectory, could potentially remain eligible for consideration for the office of Chief Justice of India beyond 2033.