Centre Clears Appointment Of 3 Advocates As Additional Judges Of Bombay HC

The Central government recently approved the appointment of three advocates as additional judges of the Bombay High Court.

The Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed the appointment through the official Twitter handle.

The three advocates are Shailesh Pramod Brahme, Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla, and Jitendra Shantilal Jain.

The appointment was made in accordance with the recommendation made by the Collegium of the Supreme Court on May 2.

According to the Collegium’s resolution, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court made the recommendation for the elevation of these three lawyers on September 26, 2022.

Seven months later, on April 26, 2023, the Department of Justice forwarded the file regarding these recommendations to the Supreme Court. The Collegium took note that the Chief Ministers and Governors of Maharashtra and Goa had concurred with the recommendations.

Notably, the Collegium overruled the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) objection to the candidature of Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla. The IB objected by raising concerns about an article written by an advocate under whom Pooniwalla had previously worked as a junior. This article, written in 2020, expressed worries regarding the alleged lack of freedom of speech and expression in the country over the past 5-6 years. However, the Collegium stated in its resolution that the views expressed by Pooniwalla’s former senior hold no relevance to Pooniwalla’s own competence, ability, or credentials for the appointment as a judge of the High Court.

Currently, the Bombay High Court is functioning with 65 judges, while its sanctioned strength is 94 judges.