The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended new Chief Justices for the High Courts of Meghalaya, Patna, and Manipur.

Justice Soumen Sen would be the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court. Justice Pavankumar B. Bajanthri would be the Chief Justice of Patna High Court, and Justice M. Sunder would be the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.

Justice Pavankumar B. Bajanthri

Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.B. Bajanthri was born on 23rd October, 1963. He pursued his education at Vidhyavardhaka Sangha, K.L.E. Society and later at S.J.R.C. Law College, Bangalore, where he obtained his law degree.

He was enrolled as an Advocate in 1990 and practiced extensively before the High Court of Karnataka, the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), as well as before various Educational Authorities. During the year 1993–1994, he also served as Standing Counsel for the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). He was appointed as a Notary by the Government of India in May 2006.

Justice Bajanthri was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court on 2nd January, 2015. He was subsequently transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court where he took oath as a Judge on 16th March, 2015. On transfer back to the Karnataka High Court, His Lordship took oath as Judge on 17th November, 2018. Thereafter, upon transfer to the Patna High Court, His Lordship assumed charge as Judge on 20th October, 2021.

Justice Soumen Sen

Hon’ble Justice Soumen Sen was born on 27th July, 1965 at Kolkata. He completed his schooling at St. Lawrence High School, Kolkata. Thereafter, he pursued law at the University of Calcutta, where he obtained his LL.B. degree (5 years course) in 1990, securing the highest marks and standing First in the Examination.

During his academic years, he was actively involved in debates and moot courts. Notably, he was adjudged First in individual performance at the XII All India Moot Court Competition, 1989, held at Pondicherry, in connection with the selection for the International Division of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, 1989.

Justice Sen enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of West Bengal in January 1991. He practiced for nearly two decades at the Calcutta High Court, both on the Original and Appellate Sides, as well as before various other courts and tribunals. He was designated as Senior Central Government Advocate, and his practice primarily involved Civil, Constitutional, Banking, and Arbitration matters. He also appeared on behalf of statutory authorities such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and others.

In recognition of his legal acumen and professional standing, he was elevated as a Judge of the Calcutta High Court on 13th April, 2011.

Justice M. Sunder

Justice M. Sundar was born on 19th July, 1966 in Chennai. He pursued his law degree from the Madras Law College, where he was part of the first batch of the five-year integrated Law Course. After completing his studies, he enrolled as an Advocate in 1989.

He built a distinguished career practicing primarily before the Madras High Court, where he handled a wide range of matters, particularly on the civil side.

In recognition of his legal acumen and professional contributions, he was elevated to the Bench and was sworn in as a permanent Judge of the Madras High Court on 5th October, 2016.