SC Collegium faces backlash as NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar calls the recommendation of ex-BJP spokesperson Aarti Sathe as HC judge “one of the biggest blows to democracy,” questioning judicial impartiality.
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MUMBAI: The recent recommendation by the Supreme Court collegium to appoint former BJP spokesperson Aarti Sathe as a High Court judge has sparked a heated debate on the impartiality of the Indian judiciary. The controversy erupted when NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar raised serious objections to the proposal, questioning whether such an appointment could erode public trust in the judicial system.
Pawar, a general secretary of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), argues that appointing someone who has openly represented a political party could be “one of the biggest blows to democracy.”
According to him:
“Appointing a person, who has openly represented a political party on public platforms as a judge, will adversely impact the impartiality of India’s judiciary.”
Addressing the media, Rohit Pawar questioned whether citizens could expect unbiased justice in cases where the government is a party and the judge has a political background. He raised concerns about political bias, asking if a judge with such a past could deliver impartial verdicts on sensitive issues like farmers’ suicides, land scams, or environmental matters involving the government.
Pawar further emphasized that appointing a former political spokesperson undermines the constitutional principle of separation of powers and warned that it could lead to the politicization of the judiciary. Stressing the importance of public trust, he said that while there is no objection to the individual’s legal qualifications, such appointments strike at the sentiment that justice must be delivered without bias.
He also questioned the timeline of the selection process, pointing out that if the name was proposed in 2025, the interview likely took place around 2023, when Sathe might still have held a party position.
The Maharashtra BJP quickly dismissed the allegations. Keshav Upadhye, BJP spokesperson, clarified that Arati Sathe resigned from the party two years ago, cutting all ties before her judicial elevation. Similarly, Navnath Bang, in charge of the BJP’s media cell, stated,
“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.”
The BJP also highlighted that political affiliation alone should not disqualify an individual from judicial office, citing historical precedents where individuals from political backgrounds later served as judges and even returned to politics.
Background
On July 28, 2025, the Supreme Court Collegium 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 major backlash due to her visible political history.
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The issue gained momentum when NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and MLA Rohit Pawar objected to the collegium’s recommendation. Pawar argued that appointing someone who publicly represented a political party as a judge is “one of the biggest blows to democracy.”
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