The recent appointment of Advocate Arati Arun Sathe as a judge of the Bombay High Court has triggered a political storm in Maharashtra, after it emerged that she was until recently the official spokesperson of the Maharashtra BJP.
The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting on July 28, 2025, approved the appointments of Ajit Bhagwantrao Kadehankar, Arati Sathe, and Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar as judges of the Bombay High Court. While the others were appointed without incident, Sathe’s selection drew sharp criticism from the Opposition.
Rohit Pawar, MLA and General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), took to social media to post a screenshot of Ms Sathe’s appointment letter as BJP spokesperson—bearing the party’s letterhead and endorsed by Sathe herself.
“The appointment of someone who publicly speaks for the ruling party as a judge is a direct blow to democracy,” said Pawar. “This will severely impact the perception of impartiality in the judiciary.”
He questioned whether such appointments blur the line between politics and the judiciary.
“Just having legal qualifications isn’t enough. If people with political affiliations are made judges, isn’t that turning the judiciary into a political arena?” he asked.
Pawar invoked the principle of separation of powers as outlined in the Constitution, stating that such appointments undermine judicial independence and public trust.
“Who can guarantee that justice will be free from political influence if a former political spokesperson sits on the bench?” he asked.
He demanded that the government reconsider Sathe’s appointment, and called upon the Chief Justice of India to “provide guidance” on the matter.
In response, Navnath Bang, in charge of the Maharashtra BJP media cell, confirmed that Arati Sathe was indeed a spokesperson for the party but stressed that she resigned from the post before her judicial appointment.
“She is no longer associated with the party in any official capacity,” he said, implying that there was no conflict of interest at the time of her elevation.
