President issues warrant of appointment
JAMMU, Sept 19:
The President of India today appointed Senior Judicial Officer Yash Paul Bourney as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President has appointed Yash Paul Bourney as a Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office, read the notification issued by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.
The appointment follows the approval accorded by the Supreme Court Collegium at its meeting held on September 10, 2026. With the issuance of the Presidential notification, the appointment process has now reached its formal conclusion and Bourney is set to join the High Court after taking oath of office.
Bourney was among 11 names recommended by the Collegium of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in April this year for filling vacancies on the High Court Bench. The recommendations comprised 10 advocates from the Bar quota and Bourney as the lone Judicial Officer recommended from the Bench quota.
The Supreme Court Collegium’s approval had made Bourney the first among the 11 candidates recommended by the High Court Collegium to receive clearance at the apex level. The remaining 10 recommendations are pending consideration at the Union Government level.
The formal appointment assumes significance for the High Court as it adds another Judge from the judicial service to the Bench at a time when filling vacancies has remained an important institutional requirement.
Bourney is presently serving as a Member of the Jammu & Kashmir Special Tribunal, Jammu, on deputation. He assumed charge of the post on November 14, 2025.
Born on August 25, 1967, Bourney entered judicial service on December 1, 1997. He subsequently entered his present cadre on August 30, 2011 and has held a number of judicial and administrative assignments during a career spanning nearly three decades.
During his judicial career, Bourney handled several high-profile corruption and organised-crime cases, including matters connected with the Roshni land scam and land-grabbing. He conducted the closely monitored BOPEE scam trial involving 54 accused, resulting in the conviction of 44 persons, including the then BOPEE Chairman, who was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 1 crore.
As Principal District
and Sessions Judge, Udhampur, he initiated action for disposal of decades-old narcotic substances lying in judicial malkhanas. As Principal District Judge, Leh, Bourney focused on strengthening judicial infrastructure and improving case disposal. He supervised the design and construction of the Munsiff Court at Nubra Valley and undertook significant modifications to the ADR Centre at Leh, giving the entire court complex a facelift and improving its functioning.
During his tenure, he also succeeded in reducing the pendency of cases at the District Court, Leh, to nearly half in less than a year, reflecting his emphasis on efficient administration and timely disposal of cases.