Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge, Dies at 59. Courts Closed on Monday
Sitting Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu passed away at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, at 2.50 am on Sunday. He was 59 and had served on the Bench since July 2017.
North Desk Correspondent
Chandigarh, June 28
Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, a sitting Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, passed away in the early hours of Sunday at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram. He was 59. The High Court confirmed he breathed his last at 2.50 am.
As a mark of respect, the Acting Chief Justice has ordered the High Court and all district courts in Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to remain closed on Monday, June 29. All urgent and ordinary cases listed before the vacation benches of the High Court for Monday will now be taken up on Tuesday, June 30.
Born on April 4, 1967, in Masoodpur village in Hansi district of Haryana, Justice Sindhu came from a small agriculturist family and was a first-generation lawyer. He completed his schooling at Government High School, Masoodpur, before obtaining his LLB degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1992. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana the same year.
He practised primarily before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in civil, criminal, constitutional and service law matters, representing several institutions and government bodies including the Haryana Public Service Commission, Kurukshetra University, the Indian Red Cross Society (Haryana State Branch), cooperative banks and BSNL.
His government law career spanned both states. He was appointed Additional Central Government Standing Counsel in 1999 and Additional Government Pleader for the Union Territory of Chandigarh in 2000. He served as Deputy Advocate General, Haryana, from 2004 to 2008, before being appointed Additional Advocate General, Punjab, in September 2008 — a role he held until December 2009. He then served as Additional Advocate General, Haryana, from December 2009 until February 2013, when he returned to private practice.
Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu was elevated in 2017
In 2016, he was empanelled to represent the Punjab and Haryana High Court and subordinate courts across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court on July 10, 2017, and confirmed as a permanent Judge on December 3, 2018.
Beyond the law, Justice Sindhu was a member of the International Law Association (India) and served on the State Executive Committee constituted under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. He was also a member of the managing and finance committees of the Indian Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance (India), Haryana State Branch.
Bar Association Mourns “Indelible Mark” on Legal Fraternity
Advocate Rohit Sud, president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, said the bar was deeply saddened by his demise.
He said: “It is with deep sorrow and profound grief that we learn of the untimely demise of Hon’ble Justice Mahavir Singh Sindhu. Justice Sindhu’s remarkable judicial career, spanning decades of dedicated service to the dispensation of justice, has left an indelible mark on our legal fraternity. His unwavering commitment to constitutional principles and his scholarly approach to jurisprudence shall remain an enduring inspiration to the Bar and the Bench. On behalf of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family members and pray for their strength and solace during this period of profound loss.”
His cremation is scheduled for 5 pm on Sunday at his native village, Masoodpur, in Hansi district.
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