Former Hon'ble Chief Justice

Mr. Justice Azhar Saleem Babar was born in village Bani Pasari District, Bagh on 23rd March 1959. His father was an educationist and was serving as Headmaster High School by that time. So, Mr. Azhar Saleem Babar got his primary education from different institutions while staying with his father. He passed his matriculation from Government Boys High School, Bagh in the year 1973 from Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Lahore. He passed his Intermediate Examination from AJ&K Board Mirpur in the year 1976 and thereafter, he graduated from Punjab University in the year 1978. He decided to study law and got admission in Punjab University Law College New Campus Lahore in the year 1979. He joined Central Bar Association, Muzaffarabad and enrolled there as Pleader in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir in the year 1982.
As an Advocate, he participated lawyer’s movement for revival of democracy in the year 1983 and attended lawyer’s convention in Lahore along-with a High Profile delegation of members of Central Bar Association, Muzaffarabad. He was enrolled as an Advocate High Court in January 1985. He moved to District Bagh in the year 1985 and was elected as Secretary General District Bar Association Bagh in the year 1985. He was appointed as Sub Judge Kahuta in 1988. He was transferred as Additional Sub Judge, Rawalakot on 11th June 1989.
He was nominated for Shariah Academy training course in Islamic International Islamic University Islamabad from 4th August to 23rd November 1990. On 11th October 1990, he was transferred and posted as Sub Judge Pallandri. He was transferred to Rawalakot as Sub Judge/ ADM on 21st March 1991. He was transferred as Sub Judge/ Magistrate 1st Class to Athmuqam on 31st October 1992. Due to his tireless efforts, Judicial Officers Association Azad Jammu & Kashmir was recognized by the Government. He has the prerogative of becoming founder president of the Association as Sub Judge. He was transferred and posted as Sub Judge/ Magistrate 1st Class Rawalakot on 20th May 1995. On 23rd May 1995, he was appointed as Revising Authority for electoral area of Tehsil Rawalakot. He joined as Sub Judge/Magistrate 1st Class Bagh on 5th April 1999 and promoted as Senior Civil Judge on officiating basis, vide order dated 15th November 1999. He was transferred as Senior Civil Judge, Thorar on 24th May 2000.
He was promoted as Judge Family Court/Senior Civil Judge B-18 on 18th October, 2001. He was nominated for Senior Civil Judges, Refresher Course held by Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad. He was promoted on current charge basis as Additional District and Sessions Judge on 19th May 2003 and was confirmed on 04th August. 2003 and was posted as Additional District & Sessions Judge, Muzaffarabad. On 25th May, 2004, he was promoted as District and Sessions Judge on acting charge basis and was confirmed on the same date. He was given “Pride of Performance” by the High Court on 5th July, 2004. He was appointed on deputation as Judicial Member Income Tax Appellate Tribunal of AJ&K Council on 14.05.2011. His Lordship was elevated as Judge High Court of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, vide notification dated 13th March, 2013. He was appointed as Acting Chief Justice on November 15th, 2019 and His Lordship administered Oath of Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Azad Jammu & Kashmir on November 16th, 2019. On account of superannuation, His Lordship was retired on 22nd March 2021.