Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh elevated to Supreme Court, major milestone for Jharkhand Judiciary
SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA Ranchi, October 5: The elevation of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh to the Supreme Court marks a significant milestone for…
SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, October 5: The elevation of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh to the Supreme Court marks a significant milestone for Jharkhand, where he spent more than a decade as a judge and also served as Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court.
The Centre has notified the elevation of Justice Singh, along with Justice Sunita Agarwal, Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, and Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, had recommended the three Chief Justices for elevation on September 28.
For Jharkhand, the appointment of Justice Singh is particularly noteworthy given his long association with the state’s judiciary and legal services institutions.
From Patna practice to Jharkhand High Court
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh practised at the Patna High Court from 1990 to 2000 before moving to the Jharkhand High Court following the creation of the state.
He was appointed an Additional Judge of the Jharkhand High Court on January 24, 2012, and was confirmed as a Permanent Judge on January 16, 2014.
Justice Singh later served as the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court from December 20, 2022, to February 19, 2023.
His judicial journey subsequently took him to the High Courts of Tripura and Telangana before culminating in his elevation to the country’s highest court.
Justice Aparesh Singh’s SC elevation follows Chandrashekhar’s appointment
Justice Singh’s elevation also comes against the backdrop of an earlier appointment from the Jharkhand High Court.
Justice Shree Chandrashekhar was elevated to the Supreme Court earlier.
With Justice Singh’s elevation, two judges who served in the Jharkhand High Court will now be part of the Supreme Court’s judicial strength.
Key role in JHALSA and Shishu Project
Justice Singh also made a significant contribution to the legal services movement in Jharkhand.
He served as the Executive Chairman of the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) from April 2021, during which the organisation undertook initiatives aimed at extending legal assistance and welfare support to vulnerable sections.
One of the prominent initiatives during his tenure was the Shishu Project, aimed at identifying and supporting children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the initiative, JHALSA collaborated with child protection agencies to help affected children access legal aid, education and government welfare schemes.
The project reflected Justice Singh’s emphasis on linking access to justice with social welfare and child protection.
From Jharkhand to Tripura and Telangana
Justice Singh was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court on April 17, 2023.
During his tenure, he took measures aimed at improving judicial efficiency and transparency. He also took suo motu cognisance of delays in criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs and called for their expeditious disposal and periodic review.
He also contributed to efforts to strengthen the National Law University in Tripura, with emphasis on infrastructure, faculty development and academic standards.
Justice Singh was subsequently transferred to Telangana and took oath as the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court on July 19, 2025.
His elevation to the Supreme Court now adds another chapter to a judicial career spanning four High Courts and more than three decades of legal service.
Justice Singh’s judicial philosophy
Justice Singh’s judicial work has been marked by observations emphasising timely pursuit of legal rights.
In one of his notable observations, he said: “Equity comes to the rescue of those who approach the court for their rights within time, and not to the rescue of those who slumber over their rights.”
His career has also included work in legal aid, child welfare and institutional development, alongside his judicial responsibilities.
Three Chief Justices elevated to Supreme Court
Justice Singh’s elevation is part of the Centre’s notification appointing three High Court Chief Justices to the Supreme Court.
Justice Sunita Agarwal, who practised on the civil side at the Allahabad High Court, was appointed an Additional Judge in November 2011 and became a Permanent Judge in August 2013. She was appointed Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in July 2023.
Her elevation takes the number of women judges in the Supreme Court to three. She is the second woman judge recommended and elevated to the apex court by the Collegium headed by CJI Surya Kant, after Justice V. Mohana.
Justice DK Upadhyaya, who primarily practised on the civil and constitutional sides at the Allahabad High Court, became a Permanent Judge in August 2013. He subsequently served as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before taking oath as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in January 2025.
For Jharkhand, however, the elevation of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh carries particular significance. From his years of practice and judicial service in the state to his leadership of JHALSA and tenure as Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, his career has been closely associated with the state’s judicial landscape.
His elevation to the Supreme Court marks the latest chapter in that journey—from Patna and Ranchi to Tripura, Telangana and now the Supreme Court.
