Today, On 23rd October, The Centre approved the appointment of five lawyers as judges of the Bombay High Court. This decision comes as the court continues to operate with only 64 judges, significantly below its sanctioned strength of 94 as of October 1. The new appointments are expected to help address the current judicial backlog.
New Delhi: The Central government, on Wednesday, approved the appointment of five advocates as additional judges of the Bombay High Court for a period of two years.
This move confirmed by Union Minister of State for Law, Arjun Ram Meghwal, through his official Twitter account, with the formal notification posted on the Law Ministry’s website.
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The five advocates appointed as judges are,
- Nivedita Prakash Mehta
- Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar
- Ashwin Damodar Bhobe
- Rohit Wasudeo Joshi
- Advait Mahendra Sethna
These appointments follow the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium on September 24, 2023. The Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had initially proposed the elevation of these lawyers on January 19, 2024, based on their professional merit and qualifications.
The Bombay High Court currently facing a significant shortage of judges, with only 64 judges serving against the sanctioned strength of 94 as of October 1.
These new appointments expected to ease the burden on the court and help address the ongoing backlog of cases.
Each of the appointed advocates brings a wealth of experience and legal expertise to the bench. Nivedita Prakash Mehta, Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar, Ashwin Damodar Bhobe, Rohit Wasudeo Joshi, and Advait Mahendra Sethna have all had distinguished careers in the legal profession, and their elevation to the position of additional judges is expected to enhance the overall functioning of the Bombay High Court.
These appointments are part of an ongoing effort to address the significant judge vacancies across the Indian judiciary, which has been a persistent issue affecting the timely delivery of justice. The Supreme Court Collegium, tasked with making recommendations for judicial appointments, plays a key role in identifying qualified candidates to fill these vacancies.
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Its recommendation of the five advocates for the Bombay High Court reflects its commitment to ensuring that the judiciary is staffed with competent and experienced judges who can contribute to the effective functioning of the courts.
In conclusion, the appointment of these five additional judges is a crucial development for the Bombay High Court, which has been grappling with a significant judge shortage. Their elevation expected to strengthen the court’s capacity to deliver justice, reduce delays, and contribute to the overall efficiency of the legal system in one of India’s busiest and most important high courts.
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