Bhat appointed AFT Judicial Member

Bhat appointed AFT Judicial Member JAMMU, Jan 6: President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has appointed Justice Bansi Lal Bhat, retired Judge of J&K High Court, as Judicial Member of Armed Forces Tribunal for a period of four years from the date he assumes the charge or till he attains the age of 65 years. Born on 19-04-1954 at village Arihal in Pulwama district, Justice Bhat passed Matriculation

from Government High School, Hawal when he was below 14 years. He did graduation from Amar Singh College, Srinagar in 1972 and obtained his Law Degree from University of Kashmir in 1974.

He was enrolled as pleader with Bar Association Srinagar on January 15, 1975. He practiced in Civil, Criminal and Revenue Courts until selection in KCS Judicial. He joined as Munsiff on November 17, 1982 and was promoted as Sub Judge on June 29, 1989. He served as CJM Jammu till his induction in Higher Judicial Service in August 1999.

He served as Principal District and Sessions Judge in both the Capital Cities of the State besides at Poonch, Reasi and Kathua. He also served as Presiding Officer of Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Jammu for one year. He also served for two tenures as Special Judge Anti Corruption Jammu and was appointed as Special Judge of the newly created Anti Corruption Court for trial of CBI cases on August 18, 2011 where he served till his elevation.

He contributed to development of law by delivering many landmark judgments and settled thousands of disputes as Presiding Officer of the Permanent Lok Adalat. He regularly contributed to SJA Newsletter and raised standard of legal education by delivering lectures in State Judicial Academy and Faculty of Law, University of Jammu.

He was appointed as Additional Judge of High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on March 8, 2013 and appointed as Permanent Judge of High Court on September 26, 2014. During his tenure, he delivered so many important judgments.