The appointment of the other two recommended advocates, Ritesh Kumar and Ansul @ Anshul Raj, is still pending.
The Central government has given its approval for the appointment of three advocates as judges of the Patna High Court. The newly appointed judges are:
- Alok Kumar Sinha
- Sourendra Pandey
- Soni Shrivastava
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The Supreme Court Collegium had initially recommended five names for appointment as judges in February this year. However, the Central government has cleared only these three names for now. The appointment of the other two recommended advocates, Ritesh Kumar and Ansul @ Anshul Raj, is still pending.
The Patna High Court has a sanctioned strength of 53 judges, but currently, it is functioning with only 34 judges. With the approval of these three new judges, the total number of sitting judges will increase. However, even after their appointment, the High Court will still have several vacant positions.
The Supreme Court Collegium, which is responsible for recommending names for judicial appointments, had suggested five names earlier this year. Despite the recommendation, the Central government has not approved all five names yet. This means that two names are still under review and awaiting clearance.
The delay in appointing judges has been a common issue in the Indian judiciary. Courts across the country often function with fewer judges than required, leading to delays in case hearings. The Patna High Court is no exception, as it has been dealing with a significant shortage of judges.
With the addition of Alok Kumar Sinha, Sourendra Pandey, and Soni Shrivastava, the Patna High Court is expected to handle cases more efficiently. However, legal experts believe that filling all vacant positions is necessary to reduce the burden on the judiciary and ensure faster justice.
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