JUSTICE AUGUSTINE GEORGE MASIH
Date of Birth : 12-03-1963
Assumed Office : 09-11-2023
Retires on: 11-03-2028
Justice Augustine George Masih was born on March 12, 1963, in Ropar, Punjab. He received his primary education at St. Mary’s Convent School, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, and completed high school at Saifuddin Tahir High School, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
He pursued a Bachelor of Science degree followed by an LL.B. from Aligarh Muslim University.
Justice Masih enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana on June 6, 1987. He practiced in constitutional law, service law, labor law, and civil law matters, appearing before various Tribunals, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Delhi High Court, Himachal Pradesh High Court, and the Supreme Court of India.
During his tenure at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he held prominent roles, including Assistant Advocate General, Deputy Advocate General, and Additional Advocate General for Punjab.
Justice Masih was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 10, 2008. He was elevated to a Permanent Judge on January 14, 2014, a position he held until his appointment as Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on May 30, 2023.
On November 6, 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice Masih for elevation to the Supreme Court of India. The resolution highlighted his extensive judicial experience across diverse fields of law and noted that his appointment would enhance diversity and inclusion at the Supreme Court, as he represents a minority community. Justice Masih was sworn in as a Supreme Court Judge on November 9, 2023.
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Notable Judgments
- Bhawana Gupta v. State of Punjab (2023): Justice Masih granted interim bail to Bhawana Kishore, a senior correspondent with Times Now, and her colleagues. They were charged under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, for alleged casteist remarks. He reasoned that the professional standing of the accused warranted the interim relief.
- Randeep Tiwari v. State of Haryana (2022): In a midnight hearing, Justices Masih and Alok Jain directed the State of Haryana to clear National Highway-44, which had been blocked by protesting farmers. Emphasizing the highway’s importance as a lifeline connecting Delhi to neighboring states, the Court criticized administrative lapses and directed the government to investigate the cause of the blockade while ensuring the free flow of traffic.
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