Justice Arun Kumar Rai, a distinguished member of the High Court of Jharkhand, brings a wealth of experience from both the bar and judicial service. His career is marked by significant contributions to legal services and judicial administration.
Born on January 26, 1970, into a judicial family, Justice Rai pursued his academic interests by graduating from Science College, Patna, with Honors in Geology. He later obtained his LL.B. from Campus Law Center, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. In 1996, he enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi, marking the beginning of his legal practice.
Justice Rai practiced before the Delhi District Courts and the High Court of Delhi for over 15 years, handling both civil and criminal cases. His extensive experience in litigation provided a strong foundation for his subsequent judicial roles.
Securing the first position in the Jharkhand Superior Judicial Services Examination, Justice Rai joined as Additional Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi, on May 5, 2012. He subsequently served as District and Additional Sessions Judge -cum- Spl. Judge, CBI, Dhanbad. In February 2016, he was promoted to Principal District Judge and served as Principal Judge in the Family Court at Bokaro for two months.
From May 2016 to June 2020, Justice Rai held the position of Member Secretary, Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA), Ranchi. During his tenure, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) conferred various awards to District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA), Para Legal Volunteers (P.L.V.), and Panel Lawyers. Notably, JHALSA received the Best State Legal Services Authority Award in 2018 and 2019 in the Eastern Zone. Additionally, the Limca Book of Records, India Book of Records, and World Records India acknowledged and certified the work of JHALSA during this period.
Following his role at JHALSA, Justice Rai served as Principal District & Sessions Judge, Hazaribagh, and Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi.
Justice Rai was elevated as a permanent Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand on February 5, 2024.
