Capacity: Advocate
Admission as advocate: 2004
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Indian
Date of Birth: May 1974
Qualifications: BA (1996) LLB (2002) (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Key judgments:
- Yagambaram Nadas v Minister of Police: Case NO 18900/2016 (unreported)
- Ziqubu v ABSA Bank Limited (9209/2023P) (unreported)
- Brits v Clover SA (Pty) ltd (1367/2004) (unreported)
- Arnold Properties (Pty) ltd v Mkhize N.O. (3143/2017P) (unreported)
Candidate Biography | Updated September 2025:
Advocate Ranjiv Nirghin is currently an advocate at the Pietermaritzburg Bar.
Nirghin began his legal career in 2004, when he was admitted as an advocate. During the early years of his career, he primarily worked on criminal law matters for the Legal Aid board, before diversifying into civil law matters. He has also held various positions in public bodies like the Commission on the Restitution of Land Rights, for which he was a project coordinator from 1999 to 2005. This could be seen as evidence of wide-reaching expertise, as well as a commitment to public service.
Advocate Nirghin is also a dedicated member of his community with a long history of service, both within the legal profession and in his personal capacity. Nirghin serves as an executive member of the Bar committee and the Bar council and is the president of the Midlands Hindu society. He has also shown an interest in community service designed to assist children and the elderly, two groups that are particularly vulnerable in South African society. Further, he has used his legal knowledge to protect and further religious and cultural rights through his involvement with various religious organisations and the drafting of proposals related to changes in legislative provisions.
Advocate Nirghin has acted in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court for thirty-seven weeks between January of 2024 and June of this year.
Nirghin has also shown a willingness to partake in lifelong legal education. He has undertaken several courses and attended various seminars aimed at furthering his understanding, including the SAJEI – Aspirant Judges Seminar (25-27 June 2024), a Gender Equality Workshop, an AIDS Educator training course and a Government Law Summit. He has also shown a willingness to pass on that education, having mentored three pupils.
In the case of Nadas v Minister of Police, Nirghin was brought in after litigation had turned contentious, and the case had developed a negative reputation amongst practitioners. This case followed the alleged rape of a seventeen-year-old by her teacher’s husband, who was himself a police officer (Nadas). In this matter, Nirghin worked to ensure the victim, who has since moved overseas for work, would not need to be subjected to re-victimisation by being dragged back to the country and into the witness box. Advocate Nirghin highlighted the meaningfulness of this case to him by identifying it as an instance where he could help a victim avoid further pain without sacrificing justice, an important balance to strike, particularly in the South African context.
Nirghin will appear before the JSC for the first time with hopes to permanently hold the seat at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, which he has kept warm for the last year and a half. If succesful, attaining his new seat will go hand in hand with giving up his seat as a registered member of the ANC.
October 2025 JSC Interviews
The Judicial Service Commission interviewed candidates for five vacancies in the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court. Following deliberations, the Commission had resolved to recommend Advocate Ranjiv Rajkumar Nirghin for the position.
Advocate Ranjiv Rajkumar Nirghin’s interview was successful.