Chandigarh: The legal fraternity is mourning the loss of Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 59.
According to the High Court, Justice Sindhu breathed his last at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram at around 2:50 a.m., where he had been undergoing treatment. His demise has prompted an outpouring of condolences from members of the judiciary, lawyers and legal institutions across the region.
Justice Sindhu joined the Bench as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 10, 2017. After serving in that capacity for more than a year, he was appointed as a permanent judge on December 3, 2018. During his tenure, he was associated with the hearing of a wide range of civil, criminal, constitutional and service law matters.
Born on April 4, 1967, in Masoodpur village of Haryana’s Hansi district, Justice Sindhu completed his early education at the Government High School in his native village. He later earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1992 and enrolled with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana the same year.
A first-generation lawyer, Justice Sindhu built a distinguished legal career before his elevation to the Bench. He practised extensively before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and represented several public institutions, educational bodies, government departments and cooperative organisations. His legal expertise covered multiple branches of law, earning him recognition within the legal community.
Over the years, he also held several important government law offices. He served as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel and later represented the Union Territory of Chandigarh as an Additional Government Pleader. He subsequently held the positions of Deputy Advocate General for Haryana and Additional Advocate General for both Punjab and Haryana at different stages of his career.
Following a stint in government service, Justice Sindhu returned to private practice before once again taking up important legal responsibilities. In 2016, he was empanelled to represent the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as subordinate courts across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
Members of the Bar described him as a soft-spoken, diligent and widely respected judge whose contributions to the justice delivery system will be remembered for years to come. His passing marks the end of a legal career spanning more than three decades, during which he served in several key capacities before becoming a High Court judge.
The High Court is expected to pay tribute to Justice Sindhu through appropriate judicial proceedings, while members of the legal fraternity continue to remember his contribution to the administration of justice and the legal profession.
