Mumbai: Six new judges will join the Bombay High Court when it re-opens after summer vacation on June 5.
Advocate General (AG) Rohit Deo, and Government Pleader (GP) Bharti Dangre, and Public Prosecutor (PP) Sandeep Shinde are among the six names cleared by the high court. Others include Advocate Riyaz Chagla, grandson of Bombay High Court’s first Chief Justice, M.C. Chagla; Supreme Court lawyer Manish Pitale; and Advocate Sarang Kotwal.
Mr. Deo was the acting AG for eight months following the resignation of Shrihari Aney in March 2016, and then the associate AG for six months.
Despite the elevation of the six as judges, the HC will be short of 27 judges as the total sanctioned strength for this court is 94.
As per procedure, all the advocates have got a notice from the high court directing them to “stop practice”. This will be followed by a warrant signed by the President leading to a notification on their joining the bench. The entire procedure is expected to be completed in the coming week.
Confirming the news of his elevation to The Hindu , Mr. Deo said, “Have received intimation to stop practice and will be soon be notified of the same.”
Mr. Kotwal said, “Once the warrant is signed, the notification will be issued by the government, and this is likely to take place next week so that the new appointees can be present when the court re-opens.”
With these six appointments, the important positions of AG, GP and PP will fall vacant.
