"Central Government Clears Appointment of 3 Advocates as Additional Judges of Bombay High Court"
In a significant development, the Central government has given its approval for the appointment of three advocates as additional judges of the prestigious Bombay High Court. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed this announcement via the official Twitter handle. The three accomplished advocates who have been selected for this esteemed position are Shailesh Pramod Brahme, Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla, and Jitendra Shantilal Jain.
The recommendation for their elevation was made by the Supreme Court Collegium on May 2 and was subsequently endorsed by the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court on September 26, 2022. After a meticulous evaluation process, the file concerning these recommendations was forwarded to the Supreme Court by the Department of Justice on April 26, 2023. It is noteworthy that the Chief Ministers and Governors of Maharashtra and Goa have also expressed their agreement with these recommendations.
Of particular interest is the case of Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla, whose candidature faced objections from the Intelligence Bureau (IB). The IB raised concerns regarding an article written by an advocate with whom Pooniwalla had previously worked as a junior. The article, published in 2020, expressed apprehensions about the alleged decline in freedom of speech and expression over the past few years in the country. However, the Collegium overruled these objections, affirming that the views expressed by Pooniwalla's former senior do not affect his own competence, abilities, or suitability for the role of a High Court judge.
With the appointment of these three advocates, the Bombay High Court, which currently operates with 65 judges instead of its sanctioned strength of 94, will see a bolstering of its judicial capacity. This decision is expected to further strengthen the judiciary and enhance the efficiency of the justice delivery system in the region.
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TAGS: Central government appointment advocates additional judges Bombay High Court Union Law Minister Twitter Shailesh Pramod Brahme Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla Jitendra Shantilal Jain Supreme Court Collegium Chief Justice recommendation Maharashtra Goa objection Intelligence Bureau article freedom of speech expression competence credentials sanctioned strength judicial capacity justice delivery system.
