Mittal J. to take over reins of Delhi High Court from Mittal J.

Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal of Punjab & Haryana High Court is likely to take over as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. This was first reported by The Telegraph..However, the elevation of Justice Mittal to Delhi High Court might be delayed. The Collegium has decided to put on hold the elevation till the retirement of another judge of Punjab & Haryana High Court – Justice SS Saron. It is learnt that Collegium Court did not want to disrupt the convention of elevating the senior-most judge as Chief Justice of another High Court..Justice Mittal is currently the third senior judge of P&H High Court while Justice SS Saron is the second senor-most judge. Justice Saron will be retiring on September 4. The Collegium decided against elevating Justice Saron as Chief Justice of Delhi High Court since he would only have a very short tenure..The delay in elevation of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal would mean that the current Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal would get more time at the helm..Justice Gita Mittal who took over as acting Chief Justice after the retirement of Justice G Rohini has introduced many welcome changes in the functioning of the High Court. The latest in the list has been the Vacation Project pursuant to which four judges are sitting during vacation to expedite disposal of pending cases and provide special impetus to disposal of criminal appeals of convicts languishing in jail..The Bar has been welcoming of the reforms introduced by her and a longer tenure as acting Chief Justice might allow time for some continuity in reforms.