JUSTICE MANMOHAN
Date of Birth : 17-12-1962
Assumed Office : 05-12- 2024
Retires on : 16-12- 2027
Justice Manmohan, born on December 17, 1962, in Delhi, is the son of the prominent political figure Late Sh. Jagmohan Malhotra, who was a former Member of Parliament, and served with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and also with the Indian National Congress.
Justice Manmohan completed his schooling at Modern School, New Delhi. He earned a B.A. (Hons.) in History from Hindu College, University of Delhi, before pursuing an LL.B. at Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi.
Career as an Advocate
Justice Manmohan enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1987, marking the beginning of a prolific legal career. Over two decades, he argued cases spanning civil, criminal, constitutional, taxation, arbitration, trademark, and service law before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court.
He served as a Senior Panel Advocate for the Union Government at both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. Among his notable cases were the Dabhol Power Company dispute, addressing allegations of oppressive conduct by its board, and the Hyderabad Nizam’s Jewellery Trust case, which involved intricate issues of ownership, auction, and valuation of the Nizam’s valuable jewellery. He also represented parties in the Claridges Hotel legal disputes in New Delhi.
Justice Manmohan was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court on January 18, 2003.
Career as a Judge
Justice Manmohan began his career as a prominent legal luminary when he was first appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court on March 13, 2008, and became a Permanent Judge on December 17, 2009. He was elevated to Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on November 9, 2023, and subsequently sworn in as Chief Justice in September 2024.
On November 28, 2024, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, recommended Justice Manmohan’s elevation to the Supreme Court, citing his seniority and the need for regional representation from the Delhi High Court. He will join the apex court in December 2024 and is set to retire on December 16, 2027, after a three-year tenure.
During his oath taking ceremony , Justice Manmohan , stated
“I have witnessed the law heal wounds, right wrongs, and restore faith. Administering justice is not just about delivering verdicts but understanding the human stories behind each case, with empathy and compassion.”
Notable Judgments
Justice Manmohan has delivered several landmark rulings during his tenure as the Judge and Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court , including:
Social Jurist v Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors (2024): He criticized the Delhi government for failing to supply uniforms and textbooks to over 6.5 lakh students in municipal schools, deeming it a violation of the Right to education under Article 21-A of the Constitution of India. The bench ordered immediate action to rectify the delay, asserting that governance must prioritize children’s education over bureaucratic and budgetary constraints.
Mohd. Ahmed v Union of India & Ors (2014): He directed the Delhi government to provide free enzyme replacement therapy at AIIMS for a minor child from an economically weaker section. He underscored the constitutional obligation to provide equitable medical aid, asserting, “Just because someone is poor, the State cannot allow him to die.”
Dharampal Satyapal Limited and Anr v Union of India (2024): Justice Manmohan upheld the regulation mandating 50% statutory health warnings on pan masala packaging, emphasizing that public health takes precedence over commercial interests.
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