Patna high court gets two more judges

PATNA: Two new judges appointed from the Bar Council, took oath on Sunday, taking the number of judges to 36 in the Patna high court.
Justice Khatim Reza and Justice Anshuman Pandey took oath before Chief Justice Sanjay Karol in the main hall of the new centenary building. On this occasion, 17 judges, retired judges of the high court, leaders of the three associations of the Bar in Patna HC, members of registry and several guests and other advocates were present.
The oath was taken in Hindi by Justice Anshuman.
Options given to the designated judges to choose Hindi or English as language for the oath ceremony.
It has been for the first time in the history of the Patna high court (after bifurcation of Jharkhand in 2000 ), that the number of judges have crossed 35.
Justice Khatim Reza, a law graduate from Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, has a practise of almost 30 years in Patna high court and he has expertise in civil and company matters. Born into a family of educationists, Justice Reza had advocated reforms in educational laws.
He started his practice with the famous advocate of civil law, S S Asgar Hussain. He had also been a counsel for Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) .
Justice Dr Anshuman Pandey, a law graduate and PhD from Patna University, started his practice in 1995. His father late Jagdish Pandey and mother Indubala Pandey, both were advocates in Patna high court.
Known for his academic bent of mind, and specialist of constitutional law Justice Anshuman during his practising years had been appointed as Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) by the high court in several public interest litigations (PILs).