The Centre has appointed Justice Sudhir Singh as the Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court following the retirement of Chief Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai. The notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice stated that Justice Singh, a judge of the Patna High Court, will assume the duties of the Chief Justice upon Rai’s retirement on July 11, 2026.
Under Article 223 of the Constitution of India, the President has the authority to designate a High Court judge to act as the Chief Justice when the position becomes vacant or when the Chief Justice is unable to fulfill the role. Justice Singh, who became an Additional Judge of the Patna High Court in 2015 and a Permanent Judge in 2016, has a background in criminal and writ matters and has held various significant legal positions.
Having completed his education at Vikas Vidyalaya in Ranchi and pursued Political Science at Patna College, Justice Singh obtained his LL.B. from Patna Law College. The appointment of Justice Singh comes shortly after Chief Justice Rai took office at the Patna High Court, succeeding Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo upon his retirement on June 4.
