Six additional judges of the Bombay High Court have been appointed as permanent judges following the approval of their appointments by the President of India. The appointments came after recommendations made by the Supreme Court Collegium, which had assessed the suitability of the judges for permanent elevation. The development strengthens the judicial strength of the Bombay High Court, one of the country’s largest High Courts, which continues to handle a significant volume of litigation across Maharashtra and Goa.
The six judges appointed as permanent judges are Justice Nivedita Prakash Mehta, Justice Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar, Justice Ashwin Damodar Bhobe, Justice Rohit Wasudeo Joshi, Justice Advait Mahendra Sethna and Justice Pravin Sheshrao Patil. All six had been serving as additional judges of the Bombay High Court before their elevation to permanent status.
The Supreme Court Collegium had considered the proposal concerning the six judges and recommended that each of them be appointed as permanent judges of the Bombay High Court. The Collegium evaluated the relevant material placed before it, including assessments regarding their performance, disposal of cases and overall suitability for permanent appointment. After completing the consultative process, it resolved to recommend their names for confirmation as permanent judges.
The recommendations formed part of the constitutional process governing appointments and confirmations in the higher judiciary. Under this process, judges are initially appointed as additional judges for a specified period and may subsequently be appointed as permanent judges after consideration of their work and other relevant factors. The Collegium’s recommendation was thereafter forwarded for approval, culminating in the issuance of the appointments.
At the time the recommendations were made, the Bombay High Court was functioning below its sanctioned strength. The High Court had 78 judges against an approved strength of 94 judges. The confirmation of the six judges as permanent members of the Court was viewed as an important step toward maintaining judicial capacity and ensuring continuity in the administration of justice.
The Bombay High Court exercises jurisdiction over the States of Maharashtra and Goa and functions through its principal seat in Mumbai along with benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad and Panaji. Owing to its vast territorial jurisdiction and substantial caseload, the Court regularly requires appointments and confirmations to address vacancies and maintain effective functioning.
The Collegium’s recommendation regarding the six judges was recorded in a resolution issued after consideration of the proposal. The resolution reflected the Collegium’s satisfaction with the judges’ suitability for permanent appointment and formed the basis for the subsequent action taken by the executive authorities. The process concluded with the formal appointments being notified, thereby converting their status from additional judges to permanent judges of the Bombay High Court.
The appointments are significant because permanent judges hold office until the age of retirement prescribed for High Court judges, subject to constitutional provisions. Their confirmation provides institutional stability and enables the Court to function with a more settled judicial roster. The elevation of the six judges also contributes to reducing uncertainty regarding judicial vacancies and supports the continued disposal of pending matters before the Court.
With the appointments taking effect, Justice Nivedita Prakash Mehta, Justice Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar, Justice Ashwin Damodar Bhobe, Justice Rohit Wasudeo Joshi, Justice Advait Mahendra Sethna and Justice Pravin Sheshrao Patil now serve as permanent judges of the Bombay High Court. Their elevation follows the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium and the subsequent approval by the President, completing the constitutional process for their confirmation.
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