On October 21, 2025, Justice Prathiba Maninder (M). Singh of the Delhi High Court(HC) was appointed as the Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Advisory Board of Judges for the 2025 -2027 term by WIPO through its judicial institute. This is a historic milestone for India, as she is the first Indian to head this international body.
- For the 2025–2027 term, alongside Justice Prathiba M. Singh, the Board includes judges from Panama, China, Kazakhstan, Egypt, France, Canada, Tanzania, Luxembourg, and South Korea.
- Under Justice Prathiba M. Singh, the board will advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital IP law, foster international judicial collaboration, support women in IP, and broaden the WIPO Lex-Judgements Database.
Exam Hints:
- What? Appointed as Chair of WIPO Board of Judges
- Who? Justice Prathiba M. Singh
- Tenure: 2025 to 2027
- Significance: First Indian to lead this international IP body
- Court: Delhi HC (Judge since 2017)
- Global Role: Co-Chair, WHO Working Group on AI in Health
- Awards: Asia Women in Business Law Award (2012), “50 Most Influential People in IP” (2021, 2022)
About WIPO Advisory Board of Judges:
Governance: The Board functions under the WIPO Judicial Institute, a global hub for IP judicial training and collaboration.
- WIPO Judicial Institute is a WIPO body that works with courts worldwide to strengthen IP law understanding, promote dialogue, ensure consistent decisions, and develop tools like WIPO Lex-Judgements.
Composition: It is a top-level global forum made up of judges from different countries, all with extensive knowledge of IP law.
Influence: The board plays a key role in guiding WIPO’s work with courts worldwide, ensuring its programs address the needs of judges across diverse legal systems and traditions.
About Prathiba Maninder Singh:
Lawyer Career: She began her legal career in 1991, later becoming a leading IP law expert as Managing Partner at Singh & Singh Advocates, New Delhi(Delhi).
- In 2013, she became the first IP practitioner designated Senior Advocate by the Delhi HC and advised parliamentary and high-level IP policy committees.
Career as a Judge: Elevated as a permanent judge of the Delhi HC in 2017, she led the creation of the IP Division and drafted its key rules, including the Delhi HC IP Rights Division Rules and the Patent Suits Rules, 2022.
- She also led the Delhi HC’s first-ever IP Division as Chairperson and Presiding Judge during 2021–22.
Global Role: She currently serves as Co-Chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group on Regulatory Considerations for AI in Health.
Awards & Recognition: In 2012, She received the Asia Women in Business Law Award for being recognized as the “Best Woman IP Ligator in Asia”.
- In 2021 and 2022, she was recognized by Managing IP among the “50 Most Influential People in IP” globally.
- In 2022, she became the first Indian judge to be elected as an Honorary Fellow of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, Cambridge (England).
Under the chairmanship of Justice Prathiba M. Singh, it will focus on:
- Promoting digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related IP jurisprudence
- Encouraging cross-border judicial training and exchange of case law
- Supporting women in IP law and judiciary
- Expanding the WIPO Lex-Judgements Database with more decisions from developing countries.
About World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
Director General (DG) – Daren Tang
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1967
