Ex-BJP spokesperson Arati Sathe’s appointment as Bombay High Court judge draws flak. Opposition questions judicial neutrality, demands her removal.
MUMBAI: On August 5, the recent appointment of Advocate Arati Arun Sathe as a judge of the Bombay High Court has created a major political and legal controversy in Maharashtra. The issue came to light after it was revealed that Sathe previously served as the official spokesperson for the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Her past political role has raised concerns over judicial impartiality and sparked demands for the appointment to be reconsidered.
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On July 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of India approved the appointment of three advocates as judges of the Bombay High Court: Ajit Bhagwantrao Kadehankar, Arati Arun Sathe, and Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar. Among them, Sathe’s name triggered an uproar due to her visible political background.
Opposition leaders in Maharashtra, particularly from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), have strongly objected to the appointment.
They believe that having someone who has held a political post in the ruling party serve as a High Court judge may compromise the fairness and neutrality of the judiciary.
Rohit Pawar, Member of the Legislative Assembly and General Secretary of the NCP (SP), shared a screenshot showing Arati Sathe’s appointment as BJP spokesperson.
The image included the BJP’s official letterhead and a post from Sathe’s own social media account, where she acknowledged her role.
Pawar stated,
“The appointment of a person who advocates for the ruling party from a public platform as a judge is the greatest blow to democracy.”
He further questioned the implications such an appointment could have on the Indian judicial system, saying,
“By merely possessing the qualifications to become a judge and appointing politically affiliated individuals directly as judges — isn’t this tantamount to turning the judiciary into a political arena?”
He expressed his concern that appointing someone with a political past as a judge can damage the trust people place in the justice delivery system. He emphasized the importance of the separation of powers as guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Pawar said,
“The principle of separation of powers is enshrined in the Constitution to ensure that no one holds unchecked power, to prevent the centralization of authority, and to maintain checks and balances.”
He added,
“Doesn’t the appointment of a political spokesperson as a judge undermine the principle of separation of powers and, by extension, constitute an attempt to subvert the Constitution?”
He went on to ask,
“When a person appointed as a judge in a High Court has a political background and has held a position in the ruling party, who can guarantee that the process of delivering justice will not be tainted by political bias? Doesn’t the appointment of a single political figure raise questions about the entire process of justice delivery?”
Pawar made it clear that there was no issue with Sathe’s legal qualifications. His objection was not to her capability but to the potential impact her political past might have on public perception of judicial independence. He said, “There is no objection to the qualifications of the appointed individual, but the appointment of such a person strikes at the sentiment of ordinary citizens that ‘justice is delivered without any bias.’”
He concluded by urging the government to rethink the appointment and involve the judiciary in the discussion.
“The Honorable Chief Justice should also provide guidance on this matter,”
he said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra BJP has responded to the criticism. Navnath Bang, in-charge of the Maharashtra BJP’s media cell, acknowledged that Arati Sathe had been the party’s spokesperson but stated that she had stepped down from the position before her elevation to the bench.
He clarified,
“It is true that Ms. Arati Sathe was Maharashtra BJP’s spokesperson, but before her appointment as judge of the Bombay High Court, she had already submitted her resignation as party spokesperson.”
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