Patna: The Patna High Court has a new Chief Justice, with the Union government issuing a formal notification appointing Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, a senior judge of the Odisha High Court, to the post. The appointment was approved by Droupadi Murmu, exercising her constitutional powers.
Justice Sahoo’s elevation brings permanent leadership to the Patna High Court, which had been functioning under an acting arrangement for an extended period. During this time, Justice Sudhir Singh handled judicial and administrative responsibilities as acting Chief Justice.
The appointment follows a recommendation by the Supreme Court Collegium, which, at its meeting on December 18, 2025, approved Justice Sahoo’s name for the post. The central government accepted the recommendation and forwarded it to the President, culminating in the notification issued by the Department of Law and Justice.
Known for a firm yet balanced judicial approach, Justice Sahoo has earned a reputation at the Odisha High Court for clarity in legal reasoning and consistency in judgments. Legal experts in Bihar expect his experience to inject momentum into long-pending cases and bring sharper focus to administrative reforms within the court.
The Collegium meeting that cleared Justice Sahoo’s name also recommended appointments of Chief Justices to several other High Courts, including Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Sikkim and Meghalaya, signalling a broader push to fill key judicial leadership posts.
