Patna: Justice V Kameswar Rao was sworn in as chief justice of the Patna high court on Sunday with Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administering the oath at Lok Bhavan.The ceremony drew CM Samrat Choudhary, deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, rural development minister Shravan Kumar.Justice Rao was born on Aug 7, 1965. He graduated with honours in geography from Delhi University in 1987 and completed his Bachelor of Laws degree from the same university in 1990. He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in March 1991 and practised before the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court and Central Administrative Tribunal.The Delhi High Court designated him a senior advocate in 2010. He was elevated as an additional judge on Aug 17, 2013, and appointed a permanent judge on March 18, 2015. In June 2024, he was transferred to Karnataka High Court, where he served as acting chief justice before returning to Delhi in July 2025. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended his appointment as permanent chief justice of the Patna High Court on Aug 6 this year.Meanwhile, addressing the valedictory ceremony of the XVII CNLU National Parliamentary Debate at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) on Sunday, Justice Rao said Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) was emerging as a field of opportunity for law graduates. He advised students to equip themselves with knowledge of IPR and assured CNLU of his support.The three-day debate brought together students from across the country. The tournament, held in the Asian Parliamentary format, tested research, argumentation, rebuttal and oratory skills. The prize purse was Rs 2.64 lakh. “Frandship”, comprising students from Delhi, Mumbai and other institutions, won the open category, while “Char Diwari” of Army Institute of Law, Mohali, won the novice category. Aniket Patra was adjudged best speaker.(With inputs from B K Mishra)