Srinagar, Sep 10, KDC: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of senior judicial officer Yash Paul Bourney as a judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The recommendation was approved at the Collegium’s meeting held on September 10, 2026.
“The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 10th September, 2026 has approved the proposal for appointment of Shri Yash Paul Bourney, Judicial Officer, as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,” the Collegium said in a brief statement.
Bourney is presently serving as Member of the J&K Special Tribunal, Jammu, on deputation. He is a District and Sessions Judge in the Super Time Scale. He has been serving in his present posting since November 14, 2025.
The High Court had transferred Bourney, then Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, to the Special Tribunal on deputation through an order dated November 14, 2025. He had taken over as Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu in August 2024, after serving as Director of the J&K Judicial Academy.
Bourney was placed in the Super Time Scale of the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Judicial Service in July 2022, when he was serving as Principal District and Sessions Judge, Udhampur.
According to official records, Bourney was born on August 25, 1967, entered judicial service on December 1, 1997, and entered his present cadre on August 30, 2011. His official profile lists his permanent address as Dadwara Bhaddu, Billawar, Kathua.
His judicial career has included several important assignments. Before becoming Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, Bourney served as Director, J&K Judicial Academy. He had earlier served as Principal District and Sessions Judge, Udhampur and also as Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu.
Bourney has also been identified as the senior-most judicial officer among the names recommended for elevation from the Bench quota. Media had reported in May 2026 that the J&K and Ladakh High Court Collegium recommended his elevation along with a group of advocates for appointment to the High Court.
The latest Supreme Court Collegium recommendation is part of the process for his proposed elevation. The recommendation will now proceed through the prescribed appointment process before his appointment as a High Court judge is formally notified. (KDC)
