Justice Alok Kumar Verma resigned as a Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court, with the Union Ministry of Law and Justice formally notifying the resignation through an official communication issued on May 27, 2026, marking an unexpected development within the higher judiciary.
In an unexpected development within the higher judiciary, Justice Alok Kumar Verma has resigned from his position as a Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court. The resignation was formally notified by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice through an official notification issued on May 27, 2026.
The notification, released through the Press Information Bureau (PIB), confirmed that the resignation has been accepted with retrospective effect from April 30, 2026. No official reason for Justice Verma’s decision to step down before reaching the age of superannuation has been disclosed. The Ministry of Law and Justice stated that Justice Verma submitted his resignation in accordance with the constitutional provisions governing the resignation of High Court judges.
The notification reads:
“Vide Notification of even number dated 27.05.2026, Shri Justice Alok Kumar Verma has tendered his resignation from the office of Judge, Uttarakhand High Court, in pursuance of proviso (a) to clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution, with effect from 30.04.2026.”
The acceptance of the resignation marks the conclusion of Justice Verma’s tenure on the Uttarakhand High Court Bench.
Article 217(1)(a) of the Constitution of India empowers a Judge of a High Court to resign from office by addressing a written resignation to the President of India. The constitutional framework allows judges to voluntarily relinquish office before attaining the retirement age prescribed for High Court judges. Once accepted, such resignations become effective from the date specified in the communication.
Nearly Four Decades in Judicial Service
Justice Alok Kumar Verma enjoyed a distinguished judicial career spanning nearly four decades. Born on August 16, 1964, in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district, he pursued his higher education in the city before entering judicial service. He completed his graduation from D.A.V. (P.G.) Degree College, Varanasi, and subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Harish Chandra Postgraduate College in 1985.
His entry into the judicial profession came shortly thereafter. In 1987, he joined the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service and was initially posted as a Munsif (Civil Judge, Junior Division) in Jhansi.
A significant phase of Justice Verma’s career began following the creation of the State of Uttaranchal, now Uttarakhand, on November 9, 2000. After the new state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Justice Verma opted to serve in the Uttarakhand Judicial Service. Over the years, he occupied several important judicial positions and gained extensive experience in both judicial and administrative capacities.
He served as District Judge in multiple districts, including Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun. His tenure in these districts earned him recognition for his judicial administration and management of trial courts.
Apart from his judicial assignments, Justice Verma also held an important executive role within the Uttarakhand government. He served as Principal Secretary (Law) and Legal Remembrancer to the Government of Uttarakhand, a position that involved advising the state government on legal and constitutional matters. His experience in both the judiciary and executive administration contributed significantly to his professional profile.
Justice Verma was elevated to the Uttarakhand High Court as an Additional Judge on May 27, 2019. His appointment marked the culmination of decades of service in the subordinate judiciary. After serving as an Additional Judge, he was appointed as a Permanent Judge of the High Court in May 2021.
During his tenure on the Bench, Justice Verma dealt with a wide range of civil, criminal and constitutional matters and contributed to the functioning of the relatively young High Court established after the formation of Uttarakhand.
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While the Centre has formally accepted his resignation, neither the Ministry of Law and Justice nor the High Court has publicly disclosed the reasons behind Justice Verma’s decision to step down. The resignation has naturally attracted attention within legal circles because it comes before the completion of the normal tenure of a High Court judge.
Following the development, the Uttarakhand High Court is expected to undertake necessary administrative adjustments, including reallocation of judicial work and modification of the court roster to accommodate the vacancy created by Justice Verma’s departure.
Justice Verma’s resignation creates another vacancy in the Uttarakhand High Court at a time when courts across the country continue to face challenges arising from judicial vacancies and increasing case pendency.
The vacancy will now have to be filled through the constitutional appointment process involving recommendations by the Supreme Court Collegium and approval by the Central Government.
With his departure from the Bench, Justice Alok Kumar Verma brings to a close a judicial career marked by service across multiple levels of the justice delivery system from the trial judiciary to the constitutional courts leaving behind a legacy of nearly forty years in public service.
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