The development comes more than six months after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Nagu's appointment as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sheel Nagu, Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, to be the Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office," the Department of Justice said in the notification issued today.

Justice Nagu enrolled as an advocate on October 5, 1987. He practiced civil and constitutional law at the High Court of Madhya Pradesh in Jabalpur. 

He was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh on May 27, 2011, and became a permanent judge on May 23, 2013.

In May this year, the Central government had notified the appointment of Justice Nagu as Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Justice Nagu's name had been recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium in December 2023 for appointment as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court after retirement of Justice Ravi Shankar Jha.

"As regards his contribution to the judiciary by way of disposal of cases, during his tenure of over 12 years as a Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, he has authored more than 499 reported judgments. He has acquired extensive experience in dispensing justice at the High Court. He is the seniormost puisne Judge in his parent High Court. He is considered to be a competent judge and possesses a high level of integrity and conduct required of a person holding high judicial office," the Collegium had said.

Pertinently, Justice BR Sarangi of the Orissa High Court also was appointed as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday over six months after the Supreme Court Collegium recommendation to that effect.

[Read Notification]