Retiring MP High Court Judge Avanindra Kumar Singh Pledges ₹1.01 Crore GPF Savings to PM CARES Fund
Madhya Pradesh High Court Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh, who retired from the Bench on September 17 after more than three decades in judicial service, announced that he would donate his entire General Provident Fund (GPF) savings—estimated at around ₹1.01 crore—to the PM CARES Fund. He made the announcement during his farewell programme at the High Court in Jabalpur.
Justice Singh said the amount would be donated as soon as it was received, describing the contribution as an effort towards nation-building. Reports differ slightly in the figure, with some referring to it as ₹1 crore and others as approximately ₹1.01 crore; the most specific reports quote the official calculation at about ₹1.01 crore.
The retired judge also announced a second significant decision. Justice Singh and his wife, Indira Singh, have pledged their bodies for medical education and scientific purposes after their deaths. According to reports, the couple completed the registration with a medical college two days before his retirement. Justice Singh said the idea of both the body donation and the GPF contribution was suggested by his wife.
Explaining the philosophy behind the decisions, Justice Singh said that serving society involves caring for the people and other things created by God. He also referred to the principle, “Apne Liye Jiye Toh Kya Jiye” — questioning the meaning of a life lived only for oneself.
Justice Singh said his retirement should not be viewed as an end to his public contribution. Instead, he described it as the beginning of a “new chapter” in which he intended to continue working for society through a different platform.
His judicial career began on May 31, 1990, when he joined the judicial service as a Civil Judge Class II. He subsequently served as Principal District Judge in Chhatarpur and Dhar and held administrative responsibilities in the Madhya Pradesh High Court before being appointed as a High Court judge on May 1, 2023. The High Court records his date of retirement as September 17, 2026.
During his farewell address, Justice Singh reflected on the lessons that shaped his career, including advice from senior members of the judiciary about maintaining impartiality and avoiding external or personal pressures while handling judicial matters. He also spoke about the transformation of the judiciary and the increasing use of virtual hearings and online legal services to reach people who cannot physically approach courts.
The PM CARES Fund, to which Justice Singh has pledged his retirement savings, is a public charitable trust established for emergency and distress situations. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the fund receives voluntary contributions from individuals and organisations and does not receive budgetary support.
Justice Singh’s announcement therefore combined two separate forms of public contribution: donating his accumulated retirement savings for an emergency-relief fund and pledging his body for medical and scientific purposes. His farewell address presented both decisions as part of his broader belief that retirement should mark a transition to another form of service rather than the conclusion of social responsibility.
