Patna: Patna High Court on Monday reached its full sanctioned strength of 44 judges, including the Chief Justice, after seven new judges took oath of office at a ceremony held in the court’s Centenary Hall.
Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai administered the oath to Justices Ranjan Kumar Jha, Kumar Manish and Raj Kumar as permanent judges, and to Justices Rana Vikram Singh, Vikash Kumar, Girijish Kumar and Alok Kumar as additional judges for a period of two years.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by sitting and retired judges, senior advocates, Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, Bihar State Bar Council chairman Ramakant Sharma and family members of the newly appointed judges.
Justice Ranjan Kumar Jha is the son of former Bihar State Bar Council chairman Ramchandra Jha and became only the fourth council member to be elevated as a judge of the Patna High Court. Justice Kumar Manish previously served as standing counsel for the Bihar government and handled several prohibition-related cases. Justice Raj Kumar, son of former High Court judge Prem Shankar Sahai, has assisted the court as amicus curiae in important matters. The four additional judges have extensive experience in constitutional, administrative, taxation, criminal and government litigation, having represented state and central government agencies as well as educational institutions and public bodies.
