In a significant move to strengthen the judicial bench across various states, the Central Government on Monday notified the appointment of four advocates as Judges and an Additional Judge to the High Courts of Patna, Allahabad, and Uttarakhand.
The appointments were made by the President of India in the exercise of powers conferred by the Constitution, following consultation with the Chief Justice of India. Union Minister for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, announced the developments through a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).
Details of the Appointments
According to the notification issued by the Department of Justice, the President has appointed the following advocates:
- Patna High Court: Advocates Ritesh Kumar and Praveen Kumar have been appointed as Judges.
- Allahabad High Court: Advocate Jai Krishna Upadhyay has been appointed as a Judge.
- Uttarakhand High Court: Advocate Siddhartha Sah has been appointed as an Additional Judge.
Background and Collegium Recommendations
These appointments come as part of the ongoing process to fill judicial vacancies in the Higher Judiciary. Notably, the name of Advocate Jai Krishna Upadhyay for the Allahabad High Court was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium on September 1, 2025, as part of a broader list of 12 advocates cleared for elevation to various High Courts.
The appointments are governed by Article 217 (Appointment and conditions of the office of a Judge of a High Court) and Article 224 (Appointment of additional and acting Judges) of the Constitution of India. The process involves a consultative mechanism between the President, the Chief Justice of India, and the Governors of the respective states.
