Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: In a major boost to judicial capacity, the Madhya Pradesh High Court witnessed the swearing-in of 10 new judges, raising its working strength from 34 to 44. The ceremony, held on July 30, marks a significant step toward bridging the gap between the court’s sanctioned strength of 53 and its active roster.
Among the appointees are five seasoned advocates and five judicial officers, selected for their diverse legal experience and balanced representation of the Bench and the Bar.
Full Bench Gets Closer to Sanctioned Capacity
The newly sworn-in permanent judges are Justice Pushpendra Yadav, Justice Anand Singh Bahrawat, Justice Ajay Kumar Nirankari, Justice Jai Kumar Pillai, Justice Himanshu Joshi, Justice Ramkumar Choubey, and Justice Rajesh Kumar Gupta.
Justice Alok Awasthi, Justice Ratnesh Chandra Singh Bisen, and Justice Bhagwati Prasad Sharma have been appointed as additional judges for a tenure of two years.
Despite the current boost, the strength will slightly dip in August following the retirement of two sitting judges on the 9th and 13th. Still, the appointments are seen as a significant advancement toward full judicial capacity.
AG Prashant Singh Lauds Elevation of Colleague
Madhya Pradesh Advocate General Prashant Singh, who attended the ceremony, welcomed the appointments and shared particular appreciation for Justice Pushpendra Yadav’s elevation. The two have shared a professional association over the years.
Justice Yadav brings extensive public service experience, having served as Panel Counsel, Government Advocate, Deputy Advocate General, Additional Advocate General, and Deputy Solicitor General of India. His consistent track record for integrity and balanced argumentation has earned him high regard within legal circles.
Justice Gupta’s Elevation Amid Allegation and Defence
The elevation of Justice Rajesh Kumar Gupta, however, sparked limited controversy. A former judicial officer, who had once accused him of sexual harassment, reportedly resigned from service shortly after his appointment.
Justice Gupta, in a statement to Bar & Bench, categorically denied the allegations, asserting that no formal complaint had ever been filed. “I have lived my entire life like a saint. There have never been any complaints against me,” he said, defending his 35-year service record as spotless.
One More Judge to Join in August
The High Court is expected to welcome one more addition soon. Judicial officer Pradeep Mittal has been cleared for appointment as an additional judge for two years. His tenure will begin on August 10, just after one of the scheduled retirements.
The appointments, approved by the Central Government on July 28, were made following recommendations from the Supreme Court Collegium, dating back to January and July this year. The carefully balanced induction is seen as part of a larger effort to strengthen judicial functioning in Madhya Pradesh.
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