Three advocates were sworn in as additional judges of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (August 19, 2025), taking the court’s working strength to 69 against the sanctioned strength of 94 judges.
Chief Justice Alok Aradhe administered the oath of office to Justices Ajit Kadethankar, Sushil Ghodeswar, and Aarti Arun Sathe in a ceremony held at the High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their names on July 28, and the Union government notified their appointments last week.
Justice Sathe’s elevation had attracted political attention as she was associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until earlier this year. Justice Sathe had served as the party’s spokesperson between February 2023 and January 2024, before resigning from the post. Opposition parties in Maharashtra had objected to her appointment, citing her past political affiliation. The BJP, however, clarified that she had quit the party before her recommendation was considered.
Following the oath ceremony, Justice Sathe joined the Division Bench headed by Justice A.S. Gadkari. In her legal career spanning over two decades, she has specialised in taxation and related disputes.
The Bombay High Court now has 69 judges, comprising 50 permanent and 19 additional judges.
