Exercising its constitutional powers relating to appointments in the higher judiciary, the Union government appointed Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo of the Orissa High Court as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
On December 18, 2025, the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended the elevation of five serving High Court judges to the office of Chief Justice in different High Courts across the country.
The decision formed part of the consultative mechanism envisaged under Articles 217 and 222 of the Constitution of India, as authoritatively interpreted in the Second and Third Judges Cases, which underscore the primacy of the judiciary in matters of judicial appointments while preserving the role of the executive.
Justice Sahoo was born on June 5, 1964. He completed his legal education with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Cuttack Law College. He enrolled as an advocate with the Orissa State Bar Council at Cuttack in 1989, building a substantial professional practice at the Bar. Over the years, he appeared in a wide array of matters involving constitutional law, civil and criminal litigation, service jurisprudence, and public law disputes, contributing to the development of regional and national legal discourse.
He was elevated to the Bench of the Orissa High Court on July 2, 2014. During his judicial tenure, Justice Sahoo has been associated with the adjudication of cases involving the interpretation of statutory provisions, enforcement of fundamental rights under Article 226, and the application of principles governing administrative law, criminal justice, and procedural fairness. His decisions have reflected a consistent engagement with precedent, statutory construction, and the doctrine of proportionality.
The appointment of Justice Sahoo as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court is expected to strengthen judicial administration and docket management at one of the country’s oldest constitutional courts, which exercises jurisdiction over a populous and legally diverse region. The elevation also reiterates the ongoing institutional process aimed at ensuring continuity, judicial independence, and administrative efficiency within the High Court system.
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