Feb 23: Justice V.K. Jhanji, former Acting Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, passed away on Monday at the age of 82.
Born in 1944, Justice Jhanji enrolled as an advocate in 1971 and practised in civil, constitutional and taxation matters at Chandigarh before being elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1991. He was transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on December 3, 2001.
During his tenure in J&K, he served twice as Acting Chief Justice — from April 9, 2002 to May 14, 2002, and again from March 5, 2003 to February 4, 2004.
In October 2005, he was transferred to the Himachal Pradesh High Court, where he served until his retirement from judicial service in March 2006.
Members of the legal fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir remembered his tenure as marked by integrity, clarity in judicial pronouncements and a steadfast commitment to constitutional values. His contribution to the administration of justice in the erstwhile state continues to be held in high regard.
According to an announcement issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Justice Jhanji passed away on February 23, 2026. His cremation will take place at 4:30 pm at the Cremation Ground, Sector 25, Chandigarh.
As a mark of respect, the Bar Association at Chandigarh suspended work after lunch in solidarity with the bereaved family.
Justice Jhanji is survived by his family, including his son Amit Jhanji, Senior Advocate and Senior Standing Counsel for the Chandigarh Administration.
The legal fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir expressed deep sorrow over his demise and paid tributes to his distinguished service to the judiciary. (Agency)
