HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE S. N. PATHAK
His Lordship Hon’ble Dr. Justice S.N. Pathak born on 15.01.1963. After graduating in History (Hons.) from Bihar National College, Patna University, His Lordship pursued M.A. Degree (History) in the year 1985 and LL.B. in the year 1988 from Patna Law College. His Lordship was awarded Ph.D. from the same University.
His Lordship was enrolled as an Advocate on 26.08.1988 with Bihar State Bar Council and practiced at the High Court of Patna. His Lordship practiced in Civil, Criminal, Revenue and Constitutional matters. His Lordship was also part time Lecturer in R.P.S. Law College, Patna. After bifurcation of the State of Bihar, His Lordship shifted practice to Jharkhand High Court at Ranchi and conducted cases of all types with specialisation in service matter and Constitutional cases.
His Lordship had expertise in Police matter and had conducted several cases and appeared on behalf of Director General of Police, Jharkhand and for several highly designated Police Personnels. His Lordship had the privilege of arguing two “Full Bench” cases which got affirmed from the Hon’ble Apex Court. His Lordship was appointed as Special Counsel to conduct the Summary Trial in famous case of ‘B.V. Rao, Judicial Member Vs. Nirmala Choudhary’, in which Mrs. Nirmala Choudhary was convicted by the Court. His Lordship was Secretary General of Bar Association, Jharkhand High Court for six long years. His Lordship was also nominated as the President of Advocates’ Association, Central Administrative Tribunal, Circuit Bench at Ranchi. His Lordship was appointed as Additional Standing Counsel of Central Government in Central Administrative Tribunal, Ranchi. His Lordship was Counsel for South Eastern Railway for 15 long years.
In the year 2016, His Lordship was appointed as Senior Counsel of South Eastern Railway for appearing before the Hon’ble High Court and Central Administrative Tribunal. His Lordship was also Senior Counsel for JPSC. His Lordship had also privilege of representing BCCL, BSRTC, Jharkhand Khadi Board, KVIC and was also engaged as a Counsel for Nilambar-Pitambar University. His Lordship was also appointed as an Executive Member of JHALSA and Legal Aid Committee of Jharkhand High Court and also panel lawyer of Middle Income Group Legal Aid Society, Jharkhand High Court. His Lordship had privilege to argue several Public Interest Litigations of which leading cases were ‘Saranda Forest’ matter regarding illegal mining and preservation of flora and fauna of Saranda Forest. His Lordship appeared and argued ‘Punasi Dam’ matter which was pending since 32 years, related to water and irrigation facility of entire Santhal Paragana Region.
His Lordship had also privilege to argue the case pertaining to Sikh Riots of 1984 and got awarded compensation to all the victims of 1984 riots i.e. after 32 years. His Lordship also represented the Sikh Victims in “One Man Commission” headed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice D.P. Singh by the Order of the Hon’ble Jharkhand High Court vide W.P.(PIL) No. 5251 of 2013. His Lordship had the privilege to appear for several Parliamentarians and Cabinet Ministers of the State Government of Jharkhand. His Lordship was designated as Senior Advocate in the year 2010 and elevated to Bench on 30.09.2016 and took oath as a Judge of High Court of Jharkhand on 19.09.2018.