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Who is that former spokesperson of BJP? Who was recommended to be made a High Court judge; questions and uproar in Maharashtra
Mumbai: The Supreme Court Collegium on July 28 recommended the appointment of judges in six different High Courts including the Bombay High Court. It included the names of three advocates—Aarti Arun Sathe, Ajit Bhagwanrao Kadethankar and Sushil Manohar Ghodeshwar—for the Bombay High Court. However, the recommendation of Aarti Arun Sathe has created a controversy in Maharashtra.
Who is Aarti Arun Sathe?
Aarti Arun Sathe is an advocate of the Bombay High Court and has been practicing for more than 20 years. She is an expert in direct tax matters and has been advocating in tax disputes, SEBI, Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) as well as matrimonial disputes. Sathe was the head of the Mumbai BJP Legal Cell and was appointed as the spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP in February 2023. However, in January 2024, he resigned from the post of spokesperson and primary membership of the BJP due to personal and professional reasons.
His father, Arun Sathe, is also a well-known lawyer and has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP for a long time. He has also been a member of the BJP's National Executive.
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar raised questions
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned Sathe's recommendation, saying that the appointment of a person associated with the ruling party as a High Court judge is a threat to democracy and impartiality of the judiciary. He wrote on the social media platform X, "The post of a judge is of utmost responsibility. He should be impartial. Appointing someone from the ruling party as a judge raises questions on impartiality and democratic process." Pawar also demanded that Sathe's recommendation be reconsidered and the Chief Justice provide guidance in the matter. However, he did not question Sathe's qualifications.
BJP calls allegations baseless
The Maharashtra BJP rejected Pawar's allegations, saying Sathe's recommendation was made purely on merit and as per the prescribed procedure. State BJP media cell in-charge Navnath Ban said, "Aarti Sathe resigned from the post of BJP spokesperson a few years ago. She has no connection with the party now. There is no basis to question her merit."
Background of the controversy
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai, had recommended the names of several advocates and judicial officers, including Sathe, for the post of High Court judge. But questions are being raised on Sathe's recommendation due to his earlier affiliation with the BJP. This controversy has become a new issue in Maharashtra politics, where a heated debate has erupted between the opposition and the ruling party.
Mumbai: The Supreme Court Collegium on July 28 recommended the appointment of judges in six different High Courts including the Bombay High Court. It included the names of three advocates—Aarti Arun Sathe, Ajit Bhagwanrao Kadethankar and Sushil Manohar Ghodeshwar—for the Bombay High Court. However, the recommendation of Aarti Arun Sathe has created a controversy in Maharashtra.
Who is Aarti Arun Sathe?
Aarti Arun Sathe is an advocate of the Bombay High Court and has been practicing for more than 20 years. She is an expert in direct tax matters and has been advocating in tax disputes, SEBI, Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) as well as matrimonial disputes. Sathe was the head of the Mumbai BJP Legal Cell and was appointed as the spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP in February 2023. However, in January 2024, he resigned from the post of spokesperson and primary membership of the BJP due to personal and professional reasons.
His father, Arun Sathe, is also a well-known lawyer and has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP for a long time. He has also been a member of the BJP's National Executive.
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar raised questions
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned Sathe's recommendation, saying that the appointment of a person associated with the ruling party as a High Court judge is a threat to democracy and impartiality of the judiciary. He wrote on the social media platform X, "The post of a judge is of utmost responsibility. He should be impartial. Appointing someone from the ruling party as a judge raises questions on impartiality and democratic process." Pawar also demanded that Sathe's recommendation be reconsidered and the Chief Justice provide guidance in the matter. However, he did not question Sathe's qualifications.
BJP calls allegations baseless
The Maharashtra BJP rejected Pawar's allegations, saying Sathe's recommendation was made purely on merit and as per the prescribed procedure. State BJP media cell in-charge Navnath Ban said, "Aarti Sathe resigned from the post of BJP spokesperson a few years ago. She has no connection with the party now. There is no basis to question her merit."
Background of the controversy
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai, had recommended the names of several advocates and judicial officers, including Sathe, for the post of High Court judge. But questions are being raised on Sathe's recommendation due to his earlier affiliation with the BJP. This controversy has become a new issue in Maharashtra politics, where a heated debate has erupted between the opposition and the ruling party.
Who is Aarti Arun Sathe?
Aarti Arun Sathe is an advocate of the Bombay High Court and has been practicing for more than 20 years. She is an expert in direct tax matters and has been advocating in tax disputes, SEBI, Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) as well as matrimonial disputes. Sathe was the head of the Mumbai BJP Legal Cell and was appointed as the spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP in February 2023. However, in January 2024, he resigned from the post of spokesperson and primary membership of the BJP due to personal and professional reasons.
His father, Arun Sathe, is also a well-known lawyer and has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP for a long time. He has also been a member of the BJP's National Executive.
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar raised questions
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar questioned Sathe's recommendation, saying that the appointment of a person associated with the ruling party as a High Court judge is a threat to democracy and impartiality of the judiciary. He wrote on the social media platform X, "The post of a judge is of utmost responsibility. He should be impartial. Appointing someone from the ruling party as a judge raises questions on impartiality and democratic process." Pawar also demanded that Sathe's recommendation be reconsidered and the Chief Justice provide guidance in the matter. However, he did not question Sathe's qualifications.
BJP calls allegations baseless
The Maharashtra BJP rejected Pawar's allegations, saying Sathe's recommendation was made purely on merit and as per the prescribed procedure. State BJP media cell in-charge Navnath Ban said, "Aarti Sathe resigned from the post of BJP spokesperson a few years ago. She has no connection with the party now. There is no basis to question her merit."
Background of the controversy
The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai, had recommended the names of several advocates and judicial officers, including Sathe, for the post of High Court judge. But questions are being raised on Sathe's recommendation due to his earlier affiliation with the BJP. This controversy has become a new issue in Maharashtra politics, where a heated debate has erupted between the opposition and the ruling party.
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