Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab and Haryana High Court suffered a major loss on Sunday with the passing of sitting Judge Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, who died after battling illness. He was 59.
The High Court confirmed that Justice Sindhu passed away at around 2:50 a.m. at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he had been receiving medical treatment. His demise has left members of the judiciary and legal fraternity across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh deeply saddened.
Justice Sindhu became an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 10, 2017. His judicial work and experience later earned him confirmation as a permanent judge on December 3, 2018. During his years on the Bench, he presided over numerous matters involving constitutional law, civil disputes, criminal cases and service-related litigation.
Hailing from Masoodpur village in Haryana’s Hansi district, Justice Sindhu was born on April 4, 1967. After completing his school education in his hometown, he pursued legal studies at Panjab University, Chandigarh, graduating with an LL.B. degree in 1992. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana the same year, marking the beginning of a distinguished legal career.
As a first-generation advocate, Justice Sindhu established himself through years of dedicated practice before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He represented a diverse range of government departments, public institutions and statutory bodies, earning a reputation for his thorough preparation and sound legal understanding.
His professional journey also included several important assignments on behalf of state and central governments. He served as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel and later represented the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Over the years, he held the offices of Deputy Advocate General for Haryana and Additional Advocate General for both Punjab and Haryana before returning to independent legal practice.
Before his elevation to the Bench, he was also entrusted with representing the Punjab and Haryana High Court and subordinate courts in legal matters, reflecting the confidence reposed in his professional abilities.
Colleagues and members of the Bar remembered Justice Sindhu as a humble, disciplined and balanced jurist who approached every matter with patience and fairness. His judicial career was marked by a commitment to the rule of law and an emphasis on delivering reasoned decisions.
His passing has created a void in the High Court, where he served for nearly eight years. Tributes continue to pour in from judges, senior advocates and legal organisations, all remembering his contribution to the legal system and his decades-long service to the administration of justice.
The High Court is expected to hold a full court reference to honour Justice Sindhu’s memory and acknowledge his lasting contribution to the judiciary.
