JAMMU, Feb 23: Justice V.K. Jhanji, former Acting Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, passed away on Monday. He was 82.
Born in 1944, Justice Jhanji enrolled as an advocate in 1971 and practiced 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.
Justice Jhanji later served in the Himachal Pradesh High Court after his transfer in October 2005. He retired from judicial service in March 2006.
Members of the J&K legal fraternity recalled his tenure in the High Court as marked by integrity, clarity in judicial pronouncements and a deep commitment to upholding constitutional values. His contribution to the administration of justice in the erstwhile State continues to be remembered with respect.
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.
Following his demise, the Bar Association at Chandigarh suspended work after lunch as a mark of respect and 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 grief over his passing and paid rich tributes to his services to the judiciary.
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