The Central government has officially announced the appointment of seven lawyers to the Patna High Court bench, a significant development in the judiciary system. This decision, notified on Wednesday, follows the Supreme Court Collegium’s recommendations made earlier this year.
New Judicial Appointments Confirmed
Among those appointed, advocates Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish, and Raj Kumar have been designated as permanent judges. Their expertise and experience are expected to contribute significantly to the High Court’s operations. Additionally, advocates Rana Vikram Singh, Vikash Kumar, Girijish Kumar, and Alok Kumar have been appointed as additional judges, further strengthening the court’s capacity to manage its caseload.
Collegium Recommendations and Current Status
In February, the Supreme Court Collegium put forward the names of nine advocates for elevation to the Patna High Court. However, the Central government has not yet cleared advocates Md Nadim Seraj and Sanjeev Kumar, whose appointments remain pending.
Current Judicial Strength and Requirements
With these new appointments, the Patna High Court’s current judicial strength stands at 37 judges. This is still below the sanctioned full capacity of 53 judges, highlighting a need for further appointments to reach optimal operational efficiency.
The Law Ministry’s approval of these appointments underscores the ongoing efforts to bolster the judiciary and address the backlog of cases awaiting resolution in one of India’s prominent high courts.
