Former Hon'ble Chief Justice
Mr. Justice Chaudhry Rahim Dad Khan (Late)
Mr. Justice (Rtd.) Ch. Rahim Dad Khan was born in village Choki Mong, Tehsil and District Kotli on 24th January, 1916. He did his Degree of MA and LLB from Aligarh University, India. On the foundation of the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir on 24th October, 1947. He was appointed as Sub-Judge on 15th November, 1947 and promoted as District & Sessions Judge in 1958. Thereafter, he was elevated as Judge of the High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on 22nd December, 1964. He was appointed as Custodian of Evacuee Property on 7th January, 1965. He was elevated as Chief Justice of the High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on 27th June 1974.
On the retirement of Mr. Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, the then Senior Member of the Judicial Board on 7th May, 1975. He was promoted and appointed as the Chief Justice (Senior Member) of the Judicial Board of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He took the oath of his office on 10th May, 1975. As a result of popular demand that instead of Judicial Board, Supreme Court was established, the relevant provisions of the AJ&K Interim Constitution Act, 1974 was amended in May, 1975 whereby the Judicial Board was renamed and reconstituted as the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, consequently, He became the first Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. During his tenure, the Supreme Court Procedure Rules, 1978 were framed, approved and enforced. He retired on 8th October, 1980. He passed away in 2004 and is buried in his native village Choki Mong District Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.