Patna: The central government has appointed two new judges to the Patna High Court, issuing a formal notification on January 5 that clears the elevation of advocates Ritesh Kumar and Praveen Kumar.
The notification, issued by the Department of Justice in the Union ministry of law and justice, states that the appointments have been made by the President of India in exercise of powers under Article 217(1) of the Constitution. Both judges will assume office from the date they take charge.
Copies of the notification have been forwarded to the registrar general of the Patna High Court, the governor of Bihar, the chief minister, and the acting chief justice, among other constitutional authorities.
The appointments follow recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium, which had cleared Ritesh Kumar’s name on February 20, 2025, and Praveen Kumar’s on July 1, 2025. The collegium had, on the same day in February, also recommended the elevation of senior advocate Anshul, a proposal that is still awaiting a final decision from the central government.
The addition of two judges is expected to provide some relief to the Patna High Court, which has been grappling with a heavy caseload and prolonged vacancies on the bench.
