Nagpur: The Government of India has approved the Supreme Court’s recommendation for the appointment of three lawyers from Nagpur as judges of the Bombay High Court. The distinguished individuals include Additional Government Pleader Nivedita Prakash Mehta, former High Court Bar Association Secretary Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar, and accomplished lawyer Rohit Wasudeo Joshi. The other two eminent lawyers on the list are Ashwin Bhobe from the Goa bench and Advait Sethna.
According to sources from the HCBA, all three were verbally notified to cease their work via telephone from Tuesday. The official warrant, issued by the President of India, is expected to be released within a day or two.
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Notably, the Supreme Court Collegium, chaired by Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Chandrachud, had recommended these three lawyers as HC judges in the last week of September. The recommendations, subsequently endorsed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Bhushan Gavai, have been forwarded to the Central Government for final ratification.
The selection of three accomplished lawyers from Nagpur in the collegium’s recommendations is a remarkable achievement for the city’s legal fraternity and is expected to further bolster the judiciary in Maharashtra, as stated by HCBA members who lauded the decision.
Nivedita Mehta, presently serving as an Additional Government Pleader, has over 31 years of experience in legal practice, specializing in civil and constitutional law. She has represented various government institutions and bodies, making substantial contributions to the state’s legal landscape. For the past 11 years, she has been the face of the Maharashtra Government in numerous legal matters. Her extensive knowledge of the law and years of dedicated service make her an outstanding choice for the judiciary.
Praful Khubalkar, a former HCBA Secretary with 27 years of experience, is a well-known figure in Nagpur’s legal circles. He has been involved in many significant cases, especially in the PIL related to encroachments on the city’s playgrounds. The collegium’s recommendation also acknowledged Khubalkar’s OBC background, emphasizing that his elevation would contribute to greater representation of the community in the higher judiciary, a vital factor in ensuring diversity and inclusion at the judicial level.
Rohit Joshi, with 26 years of practice, is another highly esteemed name in the legal fraternity. He has appeared in numerous high-profile cases, with 34 of them being reported in law journals. His remarkable work at the Nagpur bench has been recognized by Justice Bhushan Gavai of the Supreme Court, who cited Joshi’s exceptional legal skills as a primary reason for his recommendation.
