Himachal judge who’s next Jharkhand HC Chief Justice has Chandigarh connection, studied from BCS-Shimla

TNR News Network
Shimla/Chandigarh:
Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, a judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, has been appointed the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, bringing a distinguished legal career full circle — from his early education in Chandigarh to one of the top judicial positions in the country. The appointment follows the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, which has now been approved by the Central Government.

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan has previously served twice as Acting Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, earning wide respect for his judicial acumen, commitment to legal reform and sensitivity to social justice issues.

From Shimla to Chandigarh to the Bench

Born on January 9, 1964, at Rohru in Shimla, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan completed his schooling from the prestigious Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and earned his undergraduate degree with honours from DAV College, Chandigarh. He then pursued his law degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, before beginning his legal practice in 1989.

He started his career under the mentorship of the late Lala Chhabil Dass, a respected figure in the legal fraternity, and soon became legal counsel for several state bodies, including the State Electricity Board, State Civil Supplies Corporation, various financial institutions, cooperatives, educational institutions and corporate entities.

Key judicial roles and landmark initiatives

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on February 23, 2014, and was made a Permanent Judge on November 30 the same year. Over his tenure, he held several key positions:
• Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee since May 2014, working on the welfare of children in orphanages, mental health institutions, and old-age homes.
• Court-appointed amicus curiae in several high-profile matters concerning hydel projects, environmental violations, solid waste management, plastic and tobacco bans and road construction policies in the state.
• Played a critical role in the computerisation and digitisation of Himachal Pradesh’s judicial system, leading e-courts and IT initiatives that modernised access to justice.
• Spearheaded systems enabling online court fee payments, e-filing, SMS/email case updates, e-gate passes, and digital storage via D-Space repository software.

International representation and legal reforms

Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan also brought global exposure to Himachal’s judiciary. In May 2019, he participated in an international legal exchange program in Romania, focused on reforms in child care and protection services. He was among the few Indian High Court judges selected to attend a Supreme Court conference in 2020 on ‘Judiciary in a Changing World’.

He was the first judge from the Himachal High Court to represent the state in such international forums, marking a significant milestone.