Justice V. Kameswar Rao Sworn In as Chief Justice of Patna High Court

Justice V. Kameswar Rao took the oath of office on Sunday as the new Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, succeeding to the post following formal notification by the Central Government. Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) administered the oath during a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Patna, which drew senior state officials including Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

The appointment follows a recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium on August 6, leading to the formal central notification issued on September 5. Justice Rao transitions to the Patna High Court leadership role after an extensive judicial career spanning multiple jurisdictions across India.

Justice Rao completed his graduation with honors in Geography and his LL.B. from Delhi University in 1987 and 1990, respectively. He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in March 1991, subsequently building a diverse legal practice before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, and the Principal Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal in New Delhi.

His practice encompassed service law, labor law, arbitration, constitutional law, and administrative law. During his years at the Bar, he represented numerous public sector undertakings, nationalized banks, and autonomous bodies, while also serving as an executive member of the Central Administrative Tribunal Bar Association in New Delhi.

Recognized for his legal expertise, Justice Rao was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in January 2010. His transition to the bench began on April 17, 2013, when he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court, becoming a Permanent Judge on March 18, 2015.

His judicial tenure subsequently involved inter-court transfers. He was transferred to the Karnataka High Court, where he assumed office on June 1, 2024, and later served as the Acting Chief Justice of that court starting May 30, 2025. Following his service in Karnataka, he was repatriated to the Delhi High Court as a judge on July 21, 2025, prior to his recent elevation to lead the Patna High Court.

The swearing-in proceedings at Lok Bhavan marked the formal commencement of Justice Rao's tenure at the helm of the Patna judiciary. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary alongside other state dignitaries and judicial officers who gathered for the official transition of leadership within the High Court.