Patna: The Patna High Court is preparing to make history by functioning with 46 judges, the highest number ever in its existence. This unprecedented move was approved by the Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting on February 26, which recommended the appointment of nine advocates as judges. With the court’s total sanctioned strength being 53, this means it will now work at nearly 87 percent capacity, a level never achieved before. Legal experts say this is a major step toward strengthening the judiciary in Bihar and improving the speed of justice for citizens.
The nine advocates appointed to the bench are Md. Nadeem Siraj, Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish, Sanjeev Kumar, Girijish Kumar, Alok Kumar, Raj Kumar, Rana Vikram Singh, and Vikas Kumar. Their appointments follow the official notification issued by the Central Government, and they are expected to join the court soon. Such a large number of appointments at one time is unusual and marks a historic moment for the institution. Members of the legal community have welcomed the decision, describing it as a positive change for the state’s justice system.
The timing of these appointments is especially important because three judges—Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahu, Justice Navneet Kumar Pandey, and Justice Bibek Chaudhary—are due to retire in 2026. These new judges will ensure that the court continues to function smoothly without disruption. By reinforcing the bench now, the court aims to maintain continuity in its work and reduce delays in hearing cases, which has been a longstanding challenge for litigants in Bihar.
The announcement has sparked joy and optimism among lawyers and legal experts. Leaders such as Bar Council of India President Manan Kumar Mishra, Bihar State Bar Council President Ramakant Sharma, and Advocate General P.K. Shahi praised the appointments. They believe that working at near-full strength will allow the court to clear pending cases faster and provide timely justice. Legal experts say this step strengthens the judicial system, boosts confidence in the rule of law, and benefits ordinary people who are waiting for their cases to be resolved.
