Four New Judges Appointed to Patna, Allahabad and Uttarakhand High Courts

Four advocates were appointed as judges to three high courts on Monday, with the Centre issuing notifications for the Patna, Allahabad and Uttarakhand High Courts. The appointments were notified by the Department of Justice under the Law Ministry.

According to the official orders, advocates Ritesh Kumar and Praveen Kumar have been appointed as judges of the Patna High Court. Jai Krishna Upadhyay has been elevated as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, while Siddhartha Sah has been appointed as an additional judge of the Uttarakhand High Court.

The appointments are significant as some of the names were part of earlier collegium recommendations that were cleared at different stages. Jai Krishna Upadhyay’s elevation comes months after a large batch of judges was appointed to the Allahabad High Court in September 2025, when his name was reported to be pending despite being recommended earlier.

Similarly, the appointment of Ritesh Kumar to the Patna High Court is seen as part of the follow-up clearances of previously recommended names, as the court has been functioning below its sanctioned strength, adding urgency to fresh judicial appointments.

In Uttarakhand, Siddhartha Sah’s appointment as an additional judge follows a recommendation process that dates back to 2023. Reports at the time indicated that the Supreme Court collegium had found nothing adverse against him while considering his elevation.

Additional judges are usually appointed for a term of two years and may later be confirmed as permanent judges based on performance and availability of vacancies. Both advocates and judicial officers from lower courts are eligible for appointment as judges of high courts.

The latest appointments come amid continuing efforts to address vacancies and strengthen judicial capacity across high courts, many of which continue to operate with heavy caseloads and limited sanctioned strength.