The Jharkhand High Court formally designated ten advocates as Senior Advocates on June 17, 2026, following a Full Court meeting presided over by Chief Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak in Ranchi.
The Registrar General of the Jharkhand High Court issued the official notification conferring the designations, effective from the date of the notification, according to LiveLaw and Bar & Bench.
Background: How We Got Here
The Jharkhand High Court was established on November 15, 2000, following the bifurcation of Bihar. It is based in Ranchi and exercises jurisdiction over the state of Jharkhand.
Chief Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, formerly of the Bombay High Court, was appointed Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court by notification dated January 2, 2026, and took oath of office on January 9, 2026, per the court’s official website.
The legal framework governing this designation batch is the High Court of Jharkhand (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025, framed in 2025 to bring greater structure and transparency to the selection process, as reported by Law Trend.
- The 2025 Rules employ a point-based evaluation system that assesses years of active practice, quality of court arguments, and legal research or academic contributions.
- The Full Court meeting that approved the designations comprised the Chief Justice and all sitting judges of the Jharkhand High Court, according to Bar & Bench and The Jharkhand Story.
- The notification was issued formally by the Registrar General under the authority of the Full Court, per LiveLaw.
The Ruling — Key Findings
The designations were made “in exercise of powers conferred by Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961 read with the High Court of Jharkhand (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025,” as stated in the notification issued by the Registrar General of the Jharkhand High Court.
The complete list of ten newly designated Senior Advocates, as reported by LiveLaw and Bar & Bench, is as follows:
- Jitendra S. Singh
- Darshana Poddar Mishra
- Dr. Hasnain Waris
- Prashant Pallav
- Amar Kumar Sinha
- Indrani Sen Choudhary
- Amit Kumar Das
- Rajiv Sinha
- Rajendra Krishna
- Kalyan Roy
The batch includes two women lawyers — Darshana Poddar Mishra and Indrani Sen Choudhary — a noteworthy aspect of this round of designations, according to Law Trend.
Indrani Sen Choudhary brings nearly five decades of courtroom experience to her designation, making her the longest-serving lawyer in the newly designated group, as reported by Law Trend.
Darshana Poddar Mishra has over two decades of active practice and is known for representing both government and private clients, per Law Trend.
Prashant Pallav has represented the Central Government in several major cases as the Deputy Solicitor General for the Jharkhand High Court, according to Law Trend.
Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, empowers High Courts to designate advocates of ability and standing as Senior Advocates, a distinction that carries significant courtroom privileges and professional recognition.
The 2025 Rules’ point-based system ensures that the evaluation covers not only seniority but also the quality of advocacy and engagement with legal scholarship, providing a structured and auditable path to designation.
Reactions & What’s Next
No formal public statements from the newly designated Senior Advocates have been reported by the sources covering this story at the time of publication.
The designations took effect from the date of the notification — June 17, 2026 — meaning all ten advocates may immediately exercise the rights and privileges attaching to Senior Advocate status before the Jharkhand High Court, per LiveLaw.
The inclusion of two women in this batch, including a practitioner with nearly fifty years at the bar, signals the court’s recognition of experience and gender diversity in its designation exercise, as noted by Law Trend.
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How many advocates were designated as Senior Advocates by the Jharkhand High Court on June 17, 2026?
The Jharkhand High Court designated ten advocates as Senior Advocates on June 17, 2026, in a Full Court meeting presided over by Chief Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak, according to LiveLaw and Bar & Bench.
Under which law was the Senior Advocate designation by Jharkhand High Court made?
The designations were made under Section 16(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, read with the High Court of Jharkhand (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025, as stated in the official notification issued by the Registrar General.
Which women lawyers were designated as Senior Advocates by the Jharkhand High Court in this batch?
Two women lawyers were designated: Darshana Poddar Mishra, who has over two decades of active practice, and Indrani Sen Choudhary, who has nearly five decades of courtroom experience, per Law Trend.
What evaluation system does Jharkhand High Court use to select Senior Advocates?
The High Court of Jharkhand (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025 employ a point-based evaluation system that assesses years of active practice, quality of court arguments, and legal research or academic work, according to Law Trend.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
