The Central Government Today (Aug 13) approved the appointment of three advocates as Additional Judges of the Bombay High Court. This comes amid 28 vacancies in the court’s sanctioned strength.
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NEW DELHI: The Central Government has officially approved the appointment of three senior lawyers as Additional Judges of the Bombay High Court.
This important decision was announced on Wednesday by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal through a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The newly appointed Additional Judges are:
- Ajit Bhagwanrao Kadethankar
- Aarti Arun Sathe
- Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar
The appointment follows the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, which had suggested these names on 28 July 2025 for judgeship in the Bombay High Court.
As of 1 August 2025, the Bombay High Court is operating with 66 judges, whereas its sanctioned strength is 94. This means there are currently 28 vacant positions, impacting the court’s capacity to handle pending cases efficiently.
The Bombay High Court, one of the oldest and largest in the country, has jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra and Goa, as well as the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The court has a long history of delivering landmark judgments and plays a key role in upholding justice in the region.
1. Advocate Aarti Arun Sathe
- Legal Specialization & Education
A seasoned lawyer with over 20 years of experience, Sathe has handled complex tax-related disputes, including direct and indirect tax matters before forums like SEBI, SAT, and CESTAT, along with matrimonial law cases at the Bombay High Court.
She holds a master’s degree in constitutional and administrative law from the University of Mumbai and is qualified as a solicitor in the UK. - Professional & Political Background
In February 2023, she became a spokesperson for the Maharashtra BJP and also served as head of the Mumbai BJP’s legal cell. She resigned from both roles and her party membership in January 2024, citing personal and professional reasons. - Family Connections
Sathe hails from a prominent Maharashtrian legal-political lineage. Her father, Arun Sathe, is a senior counsel in taxation law and a founding BJP national executive member; her grandmother was also active in RSS. Her aunt is former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. Her grandfather, Purushottam Nilkanth Sathe (“Appa Sathe”), was a notable RSS figure and lawyer, recruited by RSS founder Hedgewar himself. - Controversy & Public Reaction
Her elevation to the bench has sparked political debate. Opposition parties—particularly NCP and Congress—question whether her prior political involvement may affect judicial impartiality. BJP, in response, emphasizes that she resigned well ahead of the recommendation and that her appointment is merit-based.
2. Advocate Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar
- Professional Journey
Ghodeswar began his legal career in 1998 after graduating from Dr. Ambedkar Law College, RTMNU. He trained under Justice Nitin Sambre at the Nagpur Bench and handled a diverse spectrum of cases involving civil, criminal, revenue, and constitutional matters. - Government Roles
In 2013, he served as Assistant Government Pleader before continuing his practice at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. - Family Legacy
He comes from a prominent legal family; his father is Justice Manohar Ghodeswar, the former Acting Chief Justice of Maharashtra, lending further weight to his professional pedigree. - Community Reaction
His appointment was welcomed with enthusiasm by the local legal fraternity in Nagpur, with the High Court Bar Association expressing pride and support.
3. Advocate Ajit Bhagwanrao Kadethankar
- Public Details
Unfortunately, there is limited public information available on Kadethankar’s detailed background. His name appears among those recommended by the Supreme Court collegium for elevation as Additional Judge. He has appeared in various matters before the Bombay High Court as an advocate, as seen in case records.
| Judge | Key Background & Highlights |
|---|---|
| Aarti Arun Sathe | Tax-law expert, former BJP spokesperson, rich legal-political lineage, some controversy. |
| Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar | Long legal career, government pleader, son of former Acting Chief Justice, positively received. |
| Ajit Bhagwanrao Kadethankar | Recommended by Collegium; limited public biographical data available. |
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