SC Collegium Recommends Nine Advocates For Appointment As Judges Of Bombay HC

• Rajesh Sudhakar Datar
• Sachin Shivajirao Deshmukh
• Gautam Ashwin Ankhad
• Mahendra Madhavrao Nerilkar
• Nivedita Prakash Mehta
• Prafulla Surendra Kumar Khubalkar
• Ashwin Damodar Bhobe
• Rohit Wasudeo Joshi
• Advait Mahendra Sethna

These recommendations were forwarded to the Supreme Court Collegium based on two separate resolutions from the High Court Collegium, dated January 19 and April 19. According to these resolutions, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, in consultation with the two senior-most judges, put forth the names of these advocates for consideration as High Court judges.

The Supreme Court Collegium assessed the qualifications and suitability of the nine candidates for the judicial positions, having meticulously reviewed the documentation and insights provided by the Department of Justice regarding each candidate. The Collegium concluded that all nine individuals are well-suited for elevation to the High Court.

The two notifications dated September 24, 2024 read, “In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend that (i) Shri Rajesh Sudhakar Datar, (ii) Shri Sachin Shivajirao Deshmukh, (iii) Shri Gautam Ashwin Ankhad, and (iv) Shri Mahendra Madhavrao Nerlikar, Advocates, be appointed as Judges of the High Court of Bombay. Their inter se seniority be fixed as per the existing practice.”

“In view of the above, the Collegium resolves to recommend that (i) Ms Nivedita Prakash Mehta, (ii) Shri Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar, (iii) Shri Ashwin Damodar Bhobe, (iv) Shri Rohit Wasudeo Joshi, and (v) Shri Advait Mahendra Sethna, Advocates, be appointed as Judges of the High Court of Bombay. Their inter se seniority be fixed as per the existing practice.”