Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Nine Advocates for Patna High Court Judgeship
In a significant development aimed at addressing the chronic judicial backlog in Bihar, the three-judge collegium of the Supreme Court has recommended the elevation of nine advocates as judges of the Patna High Court. This decision, announced on Friday, follows detailed interactions and deliberations with eleven advocates, ultimately selecting nine based on their legal expertise and experience.
List of Recommended Advocates
The collegium has put forward the names of the following advocates for judgeship:
- Md Nadeem Siraj
- Ranjan Kumar Jha
- Kumar Manish
- Sanjeev Kumar
- Girijesh Kumar
- Alok Kumar
- Raj Kumar
- Rana Vikram Singh
- Vikas Kumar
This move is expected to bring much-needed relief to lakhs of litigants in Bihar who have been awaiting justice for nearly two decades. The recommendation will increase the strength of the Patna High Court to 46 judges, against a sanctioned strength of 53, thereby enhancing the court's capacity to handle its overwhelming caseload.
Addressing the Pendency Crisis
The Patna High Court currently faces a staggering pendency of approximately 2.12 lakh cases. Legal experts have noted that the recommended advocates possess extensive experience in key areas such as service, administrative, and criminal laws. Coincidentally, about 80% of the pending cases pertain to these very domains and have been languishing in the system for over a decade.
This alignment of expertise with the nature of pending cases is seen as a strategic step towards expediting justice delivery. The elevation of these advocates is anticipated to inject fresh judicial vigor into the court, potentially leading to faster disposal of long-standing matters.
Widespread Welcome from Legal Fraternity
The decision has been warmly welcomed by prominent members of the legal community in Bihar. Advocate General P K Shahi, senior counsel Krishna Prasad Singh, Ramakant Sharma (Chairman of the Bihar State Bar Council), and Yogesh Chandra Verma have all expressed their support for the collegium's recommendations.
Ramakant Sharma remarked that after the Holi vacation, the Patna High Court would witness a new dawn, with litigants harboring renewed hopes for the speedy disposal of their long-pending cases. This sentiment underscores the optimism surrounding the potential impact of the new appointments on the court's efficiency.
A Historic Moment for the Patna High Court
The court is poised to create a historic record when nine members of its Bar take oath as judges on a single day. According to legal historians, a similar record was set in the early 1990s when seven advocates were elevated together. This unprecedented event highlights the collegium's concerted effort to bolster the judiciary in Bihar and tackle the immense backlog head-on.
The elevation of these nine advocates represents a critical step towards strengthening the judicial infrastructure in Bihar. By augmenting the bench with experienced legal minds, the Patna High Court is better positioned to address the justice delivery challenges that have plagued the state for years. This development is a beacon of hope for countless litigants seeking timely resolution of their disputes.
