Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo Bids Farewell To Patna High Court, Reflects On Judicial Reforms, PILs, & Legal Aid

Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, in his farewell address at the Patna High Court on June 4, reflected on his brief but eventful tenure in Bihar, describing the High Court not as an office, but as a temple where justice was the deity.He recalled that when he arrived in Patna on January 6 after his farewell from the Orissa High Court, he came with a sense of responsibility and a desire...

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai Sworn-In As Chief Justice Of Patna High Court

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was sworn-in on Friday (June 5) as Chief Justice of Patna High Court. The oath of office was delivered by Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.)For context, the Central Government on Tuesday (June 2) had notified the appointment of Justice Rai, who was previously a judge of the Sikkim High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 22nd May, 2026...

Even In Absence Of Express Provision In Notice Inviting Tender, State Retains Inherent Power To Blacklist Contractor: Patna HC

The Patna High Court has upheld an order passed by the South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) blacklisting a contractor for three years and terminating contracts relating to construction of power substations, holding that the State and its instrumentalities possess inherent executive power to blacklist contractors even in absence of an express contractual provision.A...

Centre Notifies Appointment Of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai As Chief Justice Of Patna High Court

The Central Government on Tuesday (June 2) notified the appointment of Sikkim High Court judge Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai as Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to notify the appointment which states:"In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India and in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, the...

'Decision As Per Tender Norms': Patna HC Upholds Approval Of Sand Ghat E-Auction Bid Submitted During Automatically Extended Bidding Window

The Patna High Court has upheld the acceptance of a bid submitted during an automatically extended e-auction window for settlement of sand ghats, holding that the extension mechanism operated uniformly and through a system-driven process without any manual intervention. A Division Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Shailendra Singh was hearing a writ petition challenging the validity of...

Litigant Cannot Reopen Concluded Proceedings After Years Of Delay By Blaming Counsel: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has refused to recall an order dismissing a criminal revision petition as withdrawn, holding that a litigant cannot be permitted to reopen long-pending proceedings merely by attributing lapses to counsel after repeated opportunities have already been exhausted.Justice Neerja K. Kalson said, "The conduct reflected from the record is not confined to a...

Patna HC Quashes Indefinite Debarment Of Contractor Passed Without Hearing, Says Blacklisting Has Serious Civil Consequences

The Patna High Court has quashed an order debarring a contractor from participating in government tenders, holding that blacklisting or debarment cannot be imposed mechanically, without notice, hearing, or specification of a definite period. A Division Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Shailendra Singh was hearing a writ petition filed by a registered contractor challenging an order...

SC Collegium Recommends Appointment Of Sikkim HC Judge Meenakshi Rai As Patna HC Chief Justice

The Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 22nd May, 2026 has recommended appointment of Ms. Justice Meenakshi M. Rai, Judge, High Court of Sikkim as Chief Justice, High Court of Judicature at Patna, consequent upon retirement of incumbent Chief Justice on 4th June,...

Patna HC Refuses To Interfere With Packaging Of Rural Road Tenders, Says Courts Cannot Direct State To Structure Tender Conditions

The Patna High Court has refused to interfere with the structuring and packaging of tenders floated under Bihar's Rural Road Strengthening and Management Programme, holding that fixation of tender conditions and procurement methodology fall primarily within the executive domain and are not ordinarily amenable to judicial review. A Division Bench of Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice...

Patna HC Quashes ₹22 Lakh Recovery From Retd University Employee, Says Pay Scale Cannot Be Reduced 12 Years After Retirement Without Notice

The Patna High Court has quashed a pay verification certificate reducing the pay scale of a retired university employee and directing recovery of over Rs. 22 lakh from his retiral dues, holding that such action could not be taken 12 years after retirement without notice or opportunity of hearing. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Ritesh Kumar was hearing a writ petition filed by a retired...

“Farmer Who Feeds Entire Nation Cannot Be Left To Fend For Himself”: Patna HC Directs Steps For Crop Loss Compensation To Farmers

The Patna High Court has observed that farmers who suffer crop loss due to natural disasters cannot be denied compensation on procedural grounds, emphasising that “the farmer who feeds the entire nation cannot be left to fend for himself when natural disaster strikes his field.” A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar was hearing a writ...

“Vacancy Of Librarian Is Not Administrative Choice But Failure Of State's Duty To Provide Educational Infrastructure”: Patna HC

The Patna High Court has expressed serious concern over large-scale vacancies of Librarians, Deputy Librarians and Assistant Librarians across universities in Bihar, observing that absence of librarians causes a “functional breakdown” in the academic health of educational institutions. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar was hearing a writ...