Supreme Court Collegium Recommends 9 Advocates for Elevation to Patna High Court
In a significant move to strengthen the Bench, the Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the appointment of nine advocates as judges of the Patna High Court. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Thursday and comes at a time when the High Court is functioning below its sanctioned strength.
The Collegium has approved the names of Md. Nadim Seraj, Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish, Sanjeev Kumar, Girijish Kumar, Alok Kumar, Raj Kumar, Rana Vikram Singh and Vikash Kumar for elevation to the Bench. Their appointments will be subject to the usual process of approval by the Central government.
The Patna High Court is presently operating with 38 judges against its approved strength of 53. This means that the court is short of 15 judges, affecting its overall capacity to handle the growing number of cases. Judicial vacancies have remained a matter of concern across several High Courts in the country.
Adding to the pressure, three sitting judges of the Patna High Court, including Chief Justice SK Sahoo, are set to retire later this year. These impending retirements will further reduce the working strength of the court unless timely appointments are made.
The Collegium’s recommendation is expected to ease the burden on the existing judges. A higher judicial strength generally leads to faster disposal of cases, reduced pendency and better access to justice for litigants.
High Courts play a crucial role in the constitutional framework. They not only hear appeals from subordinate courts but also exercise writ jurisdiction in matters involving fundamental rights and administrative actions. Therefore, maintaining adequate judge strength is essential for effective functioning.
The recommendation of nine advocates reflects an effort to fill long-pending vacancies and ensure smoother judicial administration. Once the appointments are formally notified, the Patna High Court will move closer to its sanctioned capacity, though some vacancies may still remain.
Timely elevation of judges remains vital to maintain public confidence in the justice delivery system. The Collegium’s latest decision marks a step forward in addressing the shortage of judges in one of the country’s important High Courts.
