Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari: Born on 19th September, 1965 at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand in the family of lawyers. His father, Shri N.B. Tiwari is a designated Senior Advocate and Maternal grandfather Shri Ram Datt Chilkoti was a leading lawyer in District Pithoragarh. Studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pithoragarh upto 10th standard. Did Graduation & Post Graduation from Government Post Graduate College, Pithoragarh. Passed LL.B. from Delhi University in 1990. Enrolled with Bar Council of U.P. Allahabad in 1990 and started practice at Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. Upon creation of Hon’ble Uttarakhand High Court in the year 2000, shifted to Nainital and practiced before Hon’ble Uttarakhand High Court. On 20.05.2009, he was designated as Senior Advocate. Held the office of President, High Court Bar Association, Nainital in 2008. He appeared as special counsel on behalf of the State Government in various cases. He was elevated as permanent Judge, High Court of Uttarakhand on 19.05.2017.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravindra Maithani
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ravindra Maithani :- Joined Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service in the batch of 1986. Was posted as a Judge in various districts of Uttar Pradesh and thereafter in Uttarakhand. Also worked as Deputy Director, Institute of Judicial Training Research, U.P. Lucknow, Member, Trade Tax Tribunal, Uttarakhand, Additional Director, Uttarakhand Judicial And Legal Academy and Administrator General, Uttarakhand.
Appointed as Registrar General, High Court of Uttarakhand, Nainital on 28.03.2009. Transferred to Supreme Court of India as Registrar on 21.09.2010.
Appointed as Secretary General, Supreme Court of India, on 13.05.2013 and held that position till 15.11.2014.
Thereafter was posted as District & Sessions Judge, Almora, Uttarakhand.
Appointed as Secretary General, Supreme Court of India, on 11.12.2015 till elevation as a judge of the Uttarakhand High Court on 03.12.2018.
He was a member of various policy formulation bodies in the field of administration of justice. Was a member of National Court Management System (NCMS), Convenor of the Advisory Committee of NCMS, Member of General Body, Governing Council and Academic Council of National Judicial Academy and was also a Member of the Advisory Council of the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms. Also was a part of various legal fora at both national and international level.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Alok Kumar Verma
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Alok Kumar Verma:- Born on 16.08.1964 in District Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Graduated from D.A.V. (P.G.) Degree College, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Did his LL.B. from Harish Chandra Postgraduate College in the year 1985. Joined Judicial Service of 1982 batch in Uttar Pradesh in the year 1987 and posted at Jhansi as Munsif [Civil Judge (Junior Division)]. Remained posted in various Districts in State of Uttar Pradesh. Opted for Judicial Service in the State of Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) after creation of State on 09.11.2000.
In State of Uttarakhand, remained posted as District Judge at Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun. Also posted as Principal Secretary, Law-cum-L.R. to the Government of Uttarakhand.
Appointed as Additional Judge of High Court of Uttarakhand in pursuance of Notification No. K.13032/01/2019-US-I dated 22nd May, 2019 issued by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India and took oath of his office on 27th May, 2019 in the Forenoon.
His Lordship assumed charge of the office of Judge of the High Court of Uttarakhand on Dated 25.05.2021 vide Notification No. K.13032/01/2021-US.II Dated 24.05.2021 issued by Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Thapliyal
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rakesh Thapliyal :- His Lordship was born on 15.11.1965, in District - Tehri Garhwal, in the family of late Shri Chandi Prasad Thapliyal, who was retired as an Assistant Teacher (Physical Education) from GIC, Joshimath in 1980 and Smt. Kamla Devi, daughter of late Shri Janardhan Prasad Joshi, who was a practicing Advocate in District Court, Chamoli. His Lordship has three brothers and three sisters and he is the youngest among all. His Lordship belongs to Village Khantsuyn Srikot, Patti-Paidulsuyn, District Pauri Garhwal. His Lordship completed his early education from Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Srinagar Garhwal; High School and Intermediate from Government Inter College; B.Sc. from Garhwal University and LL.B. from the Allahabad University.
His Lordship enrolled with U.P. Bar Council on 19.03.1989. His Lordship started his practice in the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad under the guidance of brother-in-law late Shri Sushil Chandra Mamgain. In Allahabad, he was the Standing Counsel for different Departments. On 9.11.2000, State of Uttarakhand was carved out and His Lordship permanently shifted to Nainital in June 2021.
His Lordship was Standing Counsel for different Organizations, Corporations and Autonomous Bodies. His Lordship practiced in Constitutional, Service and criminal matters. In 2002-03, His Lordship was appointed as Central Government Standing Counsel. His Lordship was appointed as Addl. Advocate General for the State of Uttarakhand in the year 2011. On 16.07.2014, His Lordship was appointed as Assistant Solicitor General of India and continued as such, till his elevation, as Judge, Uttarkhand High Court. His Lordship designated as Senior Advocate in the High Court of Uttarakhand on 19.07.2019.
His Lordship was appointed as a Judge, High Court of Uttarakhand vide Notification No.K-13032/03/2022- US.I dated 27 April, 2023, and took oath as a Permanent Judge of Uttarakhand High Court on 28th April, 2023.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pankaj Purohit
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pankaj Purohit :- Born on 28th July, 1968 in Village Dewalgwarh, Tharali, District Chamoli. Got his primary education in Lucknow. Did his LL.B. from Government P.G. College, Gopeshwar under the H.N.B. Garhwal University in the year 1991. Enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh on 24.02.1992. Secured first position in every class with distinction and held position in merit list, in High School and Intermediate Examination, held by the Board of Secondary Education, Uttar Pradesh. Started practice under the able guidance of his father Late Prem Chandra Purohit, Advocate in the Court of District and Sessions Judge, Chamoli at Gopeshwar and appeared in various courts of the lower judiciary, including revenue courts, up to the level of Commissioner, Garhwal Division. In the year 1997, shifted his practice to the Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, and after the creation of State of Uttarakhand on 09.11.2000, came back to Uttarakhand and started practice in the Hon'ble High Court of Uttarakhand, Nainital in all matters, specially, relating to Constitution, Criminal, Civil, Service and Revenue Side. Appeared for many institutions viz. United India Insurance Co. Ltd., Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., Nagar Palika Parishad, Chamoli, Zila Panchayat, Chamoli, Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission, U.P. Avas Evam Vikas Parishad and Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC). Engaged as a Central Government Counsel by the Union of India in 2008-2009. On 29.05.2017, was appointed as Deputy Advocate General for the State of Uttarakhand, from which post, due to his personal reasons, resigned on 19.07.2019. His Lordship's wife Smt. RAMESHWARI PUROHIT is a government teacher.
His Lordship was appointed as a Judge, High Court of Uttarakhand vide Notification No.K-13032/03/2022-US.I dated 27 April, 2023, and took oath as a Permanent Judge of Uttarakhand High Court on 28th April, 2023.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Alok Mahra
Born on 1st February, 1972 at Mahra Gaon in District Nainital, His Lordship got his Primary Education from St. Joseph’s College, Naintial. His Lordship did his Secondary Education from Government Inter College, Nainital. After doing B.S.c. & M.A. from M.B.P.G. College, Haldwani, His Lordship received Law Degree from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi. His Lordship’s father late Shri Gopal Singh Mahra was also a well-known Advocate at Nainital. His Lordship’s mother late Smt. Dhana Mahra was superannuated as Principal of Government Inter College, Dharchula. His Lordship joined the Bar at Nainital in 1999 and started practicing in various segments of litigations i.e. Civil, Constitutional, Labour, Service & Revenue. His Lordship was Panel Lawyer for Life Insurance Corporation of India, N.H.P.C. Ltd., Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), Kurmanchal Nagar Sahakari Bank Ltd., Nainital and Uttarakhand Public Service Commission. His Lordship was appointed as a Judge, High Court of Uttarakhand vide Notification No.K-13032/01/2023- US.II dated 12th February, 2025 and took oath as a Permanent Judge of Uttarakhand High Court on 14th February, 2025.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Siddhartha Sah
Born in Nainital he has been practicing as an Advocate since 1998, initially in District Court Nainital and later before the Hon’ble High Court of Uttarakhand at Nainital since 9th November, 2000. He completed his schooling from St. Joseph’s College and Birla Vidya Mandir, Nainital, graduated with B. Com from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University and obtained his LL.B. from Kumaon University (SSJ Campus College, Almora).
He has been Panel Counsel for several reputed institutions including ONGC, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, UPSIDC, ARIES Nainital, Almora Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Kurmanchal Nagar Sahkari Bank Ltd., TATA AIG Insurance and SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd., and has also been on the panel of Special Counsel for the High Court of Uttarakhand. His practice covered constitutional, civil, banking, arbitration, service, criminal and revenue laws.
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of High Court of Uttarakhand, pursuant to Notification No. K.13032/01/2023-US.II Dated 05th January, 2026 issued by Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India and took oath and assumed charge of His Office on 08.02.2026 (F.N.).
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Subhash Upadhyay
His Lordship was born on 12th December, 1972 at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. His Lordship’s native Village is in Tehsil Salt, District Almora. His father Late Shri G.N. Upadhyaya came to Lucknow in late 1950s and retired from the post of Joint Secretary, UP Cooperative Federation, Lucknow.
His Lordship completed his schooling from Army Public School, Lucknow and thereafter completed his B.Sc., L.L.B. and Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Lucknow University.
His Lordship was enrolled as an Advocate in the year 1998 and started practice at the Lucknow Bench of the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court in Civil, Constitutional and Service matters. After creation of the State of Uttarakhand, His Lordship started practice at Uttarakhand High Court at Nainital. His Lordship was appointed as Brief Holder for the State of Uttarakhand in 2002 and was appointed Standing counsel for the State of Uttarakhand in 2012. In 2014, His Lordship was appointed as the Chief Standing Counsel for the State of Uttarakhand; he held the said post till 2016. Besides, His Lordship has also been the counsel for the G.B. Pant Engineering College, Pauri Garhwal, Nagar Nigam, Rishikesh and Uttarakhand Cooperative Federation.
His Lordship was appointed as an Additional Judge of High Court of Uttarakhand, pursuant to Notification No. K.13032/03/2022-US.I Dated 26th May, 2025 issued by Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India and took oath and assumed charge of His Office on 30.05.2025 (F.N.).
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashish Naithani
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ashish Naithani is a Permanent Judge of the High Court of Uttarakhand. He hails from Kalsi, in the Jaunsar-Bawar tribal region of Dehradun, and holds the distinction of being the first Scheduled Tribe (Jaunsari) candidate from Uttarakhand to be elevated as a Permanent Judge of the High Court since the state’s creation.
Justice Naithani completed his education in Dehradun and joined the Uttar Pradesh Judicial Service on 29th April 1992. Following the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000, he opted to serve in the Uttarakhand Judiciary. He was promoted to the Higher Judicial Service in 2006 and appointed as a District Judge in 2011. For over 13 years, he served with distinction in the District Judiciary, adjudicating complex legal matters with dedication and integrity.
He retired as the Registrar General of the High Court of Uttarakhand on 30th June 2024, after rendering notable service in judicial administration. He was elevated as a Judge of the High Court on 9th January 2025—becoming the first judicial officer to be elevated post-retirement from the District Judiciary.
His judicial work reflects a sound grasp of both civil and criminal law, with a keen interest in forensic and cyber law. Beyond the courtroom, Justice Naithani is an accomplished photographer, painter, and calligrapher—his artistic pursuits mirroring the same depth and precision that define his approach to law.