Hon’ble Justice Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India and one of the country's most distinguished jurists, known for his contributions to constitutional law, judicial administration and access to justice. Born on 10 February 1962 in Hisar, Haryana, he graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981 and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984. He began his legal career at the District Court in Hisar before moving to Chandigarh in 1985 to practice before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he developed extensive expertise in Constitutional, Service and Civil Law matters. During his practice, he represented numerous universities, statutory boards, corporations, banks and the High Court itself.

Justice Surya Kant achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest Advocate General of Haryana when he was appointed to the office on 7 July 2000. He was designated as a Senior Advocate in March 2001 and continued to serve as Advocate General until his elevation as a Permanent Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 9 January 2004. Throughout his judicial career, he has been actively involved in legal education, judicial reforms and legal aid initiatives. He served as a Member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for two consecutive terms from 2007 to 2011 and has contributed to the work of the Indian Law Institute through various committees.

Demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence, Justice Surya Kant earned his Master of Laws degree from Kurukshetra University in 2011, securing First Class First position. He has organized and participated in numerous prestigious national and international conferences and is widely respected for his scholarly engagement with contemporary legal issues. On 5 October 2018, he assumed office as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, where he provided significant judicial and administrative leadership before being elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 24 May 2019.

During his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Surya Kant served as Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC), playing a key role in promoting access to justice and strengthening legal aid mechanisms across the country. On 24 November 2025, he was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, assuming the highest judicial office in the nation. Widely admired for his legal acumen, integrity and commitment to constitutional values, Chief Justice Surya Kant continues to guide the Indian judiciary in addressing contemporary legal challenges while advancing the principles of justice, equality and the rule of law.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya is the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and an eminent jurist known for his extensive contributions to constitutional and civil jurisprudence. Born on 16 June 1965 in Village Muskarai, District Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, Justice Upadhyaya pursued his legal education at Lucknow University, earning his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 1991.

He enrolled as an Advocate on 11 May 1991 and began his legal practice under the guidance of his father, Shri R.A. Upadhyaya, a distinguished practitioner before the Board of Revenue for over six decades. He also trained under renowned legal luminaries Shri Mohd. Arif Khan, Senior Advocate and Shri S.K. Kalia, Senior Advocate.

Justice Upadhyaya primarily practiced on the Civil and Constitutional sides before the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench. During his years at the Bar, he built a strong reputation for his legal expertise, advocacy skills and deep understanding of public law and constitutional matters. His distinguished professional standing led to his appointment as the Chief Standing Counsel for the State of Uttar Pradesh in May 2007, a position he held with distinction until his elevation to the Bench.

On 21 November 2011, Justice Upadhyaya was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. He was subsequently confirmed as a Permanent Judge on 6 August 2013. During his tenure at the Allahabad High Court, he delivered several significant judgments and contributed meaningfully to the development of legal jurisprudence. Recognizing his seniority and judicial leadership, he became the Senior Judge of the Lucknow Bench on 28 March 2023.

Justice Upadhyaya was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and took oath of office on 29 July 2023. As Chief Justice, he provided effective judicial and administrative leadership to one of India’s most prominent constitutional courts, focusing on judicial efficiency, institutional development and access to justice.

On 21 January 2025, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya assumed office as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court following his transfer from the Bombay High Court. As the head of one of the country’s most influential High Courts, he continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening the administration of justice and upholding constitutional values. Widely respected for his judicial wisdom, integrity and commitment to the rule of law, Justice Upadhyaya remains a distinguished figure in the Indian judiciary and a strong advocate of fair, accessible and efficient justice delivery.

Hon’ble Ms. Justice Prathiba M. Singh is a distinguished Judge of the Delhi High Court and one of India’s most influential figures in the field of Intellectual Property Law. Renowned for her contributions to intellectual property jurisprudence, commercial law and judicial reform, she has played a transformative role in shaping India’s modern intellectual property framework. Her legal career reflects a rare combination of academic excellence, professional distinction and judicial leadership.

Justice Singh completed the five-year law programme from the University Law College, Bangalore, graduating as the First Rank holder of Bangalore University. During her student years, she represented India at the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Chicago, USA. Recognizing her academic merit, she was awarded the prestigious ODASSS Scholarship by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust to pursue an LL.M. at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. She enrolled with the Bar in 1991 and quickly established herself as one of India’s leading intellectual property practitioners. Prior to her elevation to the Bench, Justice Singh was the Managing Partner of Singh & Singh, where she built an outstanding practice encompassing intellectual property law, commercial litigation, arbitration, telecommunications, broadcasting, media law, regulatory matters, education law and constitutional litigation. She handled landmark matters involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, plant varieties and internet law, regularly appearing before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB), TDSAT and various intellectual property authorities.

Her expertise led to several important public appointments. She served as Amicus Curiae for streamlining the functioning of the Copyright Office and was a member of a High-Level Committee constituted to improve patent examination procedures in India. She was also invited to assist Parliamentary Committees examining amendments to the Patents Act, Copyright Act and Geographical Indications legislation, and served on the CII National Steering Committee on Intellectual Property Rights.

Justice Singh was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Delhi High Court in 2013. She was also a member of the Government of India’s IPR Think Tank, which drafted India’s first National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, released in 2015. Her leadership in professional organizations such as APAA, INTA, AIPPI and other national and international bodies significantly contributed to strengthening India’s intellectual property ecosystem.

Elevated as a Permanent Judge of the Delhi High Court on 15 May 2017, Justice Singh has continued to make landmark contributions to intellectual property jurisprudence. She chaired the committee responsible for recommending the establishment of the Intellectual Property Division (IPD) of the Delhi High Court following the abolition of the IPAB and oversaw the drafting of the Delhi High Court Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2022. She also chaired the Patent Committee that drafted the Delhi High Court Rules Governing Patent Suits, 2022, creating a specialized framework for patent litigation in India.

Her contributions have been widely recognized through numerous awards and honours, including IP Litigator of the Year, IP Lawyer of the Year, Best IP Senior Counsel, Woman Lawyer of the Year and recognition among the Most Powerful Women in Business. Managing IP has listed her among the 50 Most Influential People in Intellectual Property globally for consecutive years. In 2022, she became the first Indian Judge to be elected as an Honorary Fellow of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, a testament to her international standing and contribution to the legal profession.