Delhi High Court Judge Prathiba M. Singh Appointed Chair Of WIPO Advisory Board Of Judges

Delhi High Court Judge Prathiba M. Singh Appointed Chair of WIPO Advisory Board of Judges

In a landmark development for India, Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court has been appointed Chairperson of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Advisory Board of Judges for the 2025–2027 term. This marks the first time an Indian judge has led WIPO’s Advisory Board, a high-level international forum comprising judges with deep expertise in intellectual property (IP) law.

Role and Responsibilities

As Chair, Justice Singh will lead a panel of international judges providing guidance and strategic direction to WIPO’s engagement with judiciaries worldwide, ensuring initiatives are responsive to the needs of courts across diverse legal systems. The Advisory Board plays a crucial role in shaping WIPO’s programs in the field of IP, strengthening global judicial understanding and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Career and Contributions

Justice Prathiba M. Singh was elevated as a permanent judge of the Delhi High Court in 2017. She previously served as Chairperson and Presiding Judge of the Delhi High Court’s first Intellectual Property Division during the 2021–2022 session. A member of the Bar since 1991, she has regularly appeared before the Supreme Court of India, the Delhi High Court, the IP Appellate Board, and the Indian Patent Office.

Justice Singh has also contributed significantly to IP policy and legal reform, including assisting Parliamentary Committees on legislative amendments, streamlining patent examination processes, and copyright reforms. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the World Health Organization’s Working Group on Regulatory Considerations on AI in Health.

Education and Recognition

Justice Singh holds a law degree from University Law College, Bangalore, and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge, where the “Prathiba M. Singh Scholarship” for LL.M. students was established in 2013. She has been recognized among the 50 most influential people in global IP for both 2021 and 2022.

International Advisory Board Members

Alongside Justice Singh, the WIPO Advisory Board of Judges for 2025–2027 includes: Luis Antonio Camargo Vergara (Panama), Du Weike (China), Zhanar Mukhamedkaliyevna Duisenova (Kazakhstan), Mohammad ElZend (Egypt), Jean-Christophe Gayet (France), Michael Manson (Canada), Mustapher Mohamed Siyani (Tanzania), Savvas S. Papasavvas (European Union), and Woo Sungyop (South Korea).

National Recognition

The appointment has been widely appreciated across India. India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva called it “a proud moment for India,” highlighting her leadership in guiding WIPO’s work with judiciaries in IP. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also congratulated Justice Singh, calling her appointment a matter of national pride and a milestone for India in global intellectual property governance.

Justice Prathiba M. Singh’s appointment as Chair of WIPO’s Advisory Board of Judges not only underscores her remarkable contributions to the field of IP law but also strengthens India’s presence on the global stage, promoting a more resilient and innovation-driven intellectual property ecosystem.