Supreme Court Collegium recommends 14 lawyers for Bombay High Court judgeship, including CJI Gavai’s nephew Raj Damodar Wakode, highlighting academic excellence, professional experience, and judicial legacy.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended 14 lawyers for elevation as judges of the Bombay High Court. Among them is Raj Damodar Wakode, who is related to Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai. Wakode, the son of the CJI’s cousin, is regarded as Justice Gavai’s nephew. However, the CJI’s brother, Dr. Rajendra Gavai, has clarified that Wakode should be seen more as a “distant relative.”
Raj Damodar Wakode
Academic Record:
Wakode has completed his schooling under the Maharashtra board, earning distinction in Class 12 from the Amravati division in 1996. He pursued science and went on to secure a gold medal in MSc in 2001. Later, he turned to law, obtaining an LLB degree from Amravati University in 2004 with 60.34% marks.
Professional Background:
Following his law degree, Wakode began his practice under the guidance of Justice Nitin Sambre, now a judge of the Delhi High Court. With nearly two decades of experience, his practice has included:
- Appellate civil and criminal cases
- Writ jurisdiction at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court
- Matters before district courts and statutory tribunals, including the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, Revenue Tribunal, and University & College Tribunal
Wakode has also served as standing counsel for several important public bodies, including:
- Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
- Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited
- Union of India
- Union Public Service Commission
- Municipal Corporations of Amravati and Nagpur
In addition, he was the legal advisor to the National Co-Operative Consumers Federation and other institutions. Colleagues in Nagpur describe him as a competent and capable lawyer. When contacted, he declined to comment on his recommendation.
Collegium Process:
Sources from the Supreme Court have confirmed that CJI Gavai recused himself from discussions in the Collegium regarding candidates linked to him directly or indirectly. Despite this, Wakode’s name, along with two other lawyers who had past professional associations with the CJI, made it to the final recommendation list.
Observers point out that the elevation of family members of judges is not without precedent. Several prominent examples include:
- Justice YV Chandrachud and his son, Justice DY Chandrachud, both of whom served as Chief Justices of India.
- Justice HR Khanna and his nephew, Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
- Justice ES Venkataramiah and his daughter, Justice BV Nagarathna, who is set to become India’s first woman CJI in 2027.
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