Justice Sudhir Singh appointed acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court

The Centre has appointed Justice Sudhir Singh as the Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, succeeding Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, who retires on July 11, 2026, after a brief one-month tenure at the helm

New Delhi: The Centre on Friday issued a notification appointing Justice Sudhir Singh as the Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court following the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai.

“In exercise of the power conferred by Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sudhir Singh, Judge of the Patna High Court, to perform the duties of office of the Chief Justice of that High Court consequent upon retirement of Smt. Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai on 11.07.2026,” a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice said.

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Article 223 of the Constitution empowers the President to appoint a judge of a High Court to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice when the post falls vacant or when the Chief Justice is unable to discharge the functions of the office.

Justice Singh was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Patna High Court on April 15, 2015, and was sworn in as a Permanent Judge on April 20, 2016. Enrolled as an advocate in 1991, he practised in criminal and writ matters and held several key positions, including Central Government Counsel for the Union of India, Railway Advocate for the Ministry of Railways, Additional Standing Counsel for the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, and Assistant Solicitor General of India at the Patna High Court.

He completed his schooling from Vikas Vidyalaya, Ranchi, followed by graduation in Political Science from Patna College under Patna University, and an LL.B. from Patna Law College.

The notification comes just over a month after Justice Rai assumed office as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. She was sworn in by Governor, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) at a ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan in Patna, following her appointment on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

She had taken over as the head of the Patna High Court following the retirement of Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo on June 4.