Former Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Sureshwar Thakur Appointed As Chairman Of Punjab NRI Commission

The Punjab Government on Tuesday appointed former judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Sureshwar Thakur as the Chairman of that Punjab State Commission for NRIs.

Justice Thakur retired from the High Court on May 16 after having served as a High Court judge for over 11 years.

Justice Sureshwar Thakur, who hails from Himachal Pradesh, has had a long and illustrious career in the legal and judicial services. He began his practice in 1987 at the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, handling a wide range of matters including civil, criminal, and constitutional cases.

From 1994 to 2000, Justice Thakur served as the Additional Central Government Standing Counsel, representing the Union of India in the High Court. During this period, he also briefly held the role of Litigation In-Charge for Union of India cases, further deepening his experience in public law.

In 2001, he transitioned to the judiciary and was appointed as Additional District and Sessions Judge, with his first posting at Kangra (Dharamshala). His judicial journey then took him to several key positions across Himachal Pradesh. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mandi, and briefly thereafter as District and Sessions Judge, Kinnaur at Rampur.

Justice Thakur also served in various other significant roles including Presiding Officer of the Labour Court in Kangra at Dharamshala (2005–2008), District and Sessions Judge of Bilaspur (2008–2009), and President of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Shimla (till 2010). He continued his tenure in district judiciary as District and Sessions Judge in Sirmaur at Nahan (2010–2012) and later in Kangra at Dharamshala (2012–2013).

From May 1, 2013, to May 4, 2014, he served as Registrar of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, a role that provided crucial administrative insight into the functioning of the judiciary.

Justice Thakur was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on May 5, 2014, and subsequently took oath as a permanent Judge on November 30, 2014.

His career reflects a deep commitment to the rule of law and delivery of justice, marked by rich experience across judicial and administrative roles within the state.

Judgements delivered by Justice Thakur can be read here.