The proposed appointment of former BJP spokesperson Aarti Sathe as a judge of the Bombay High Court has sparked political outrage, with senior leaders from both the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and the Congress questioning the integrity and impartiality of the judicial selection process.
NCP MLA Rohit Pawar and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Tuesday called the move a “serious threat to democracy” and urged the Supreme Court Collegium to immediately withdraw the recommendation.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Rohit Pawar criticized the Collegium for considering a politically affiliated individual for a high judicial post. “Appointing someone who has aggressively represented a political party on public platforms as a judge undermines the neutrality of the judiciary. This raises genuine concerns about whether justice will be delivered impartially in politically sensitive cases,” he said.
Pawar pointed out that Sathe had served as an official spokesperson of the BJP and was regularly seen defending the party on national television. “Though it is being claimed that she resigned from her BJP position in 2024, the judicial appointment process begins nearly two years earlier. If her name is now under consideration for 2025, that means the evaluation and interviews likely began in 2023, when she was still actively associated with the party,” he stated.
He added that the judiciary must remain above political affiliations and said that such appointments could cast doubts on verdicts, especially in cases involving the opposition. “If a politically connected person becomes a judge, will common people—especially those speaking against the government—get fair justice?” Pawar asked. He further appealed to the government and the Chief Justice to remove Sathe’s name from the list of proposed appointments.
Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal also voiced strong objections. He highlighted that Aarti Sathe was included in the BJP’s official list of spokespersons announced on February 2, 2023, by then-state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule. “How can a person who was actively holding a political position until recently be trusted to deliver unbiased judgments? Such appointments strangle the spirit of democracy and damage public trust in the judiciary,” said Sapkal.
He further accused the BJP government of systematically undermining democratic institutions since 2014. “From the Election Commission to autonomous bodies, every institution seems to be functioning under government influence. The judiciary was once the last hope, but even that has now come under question,” Sapkal said.
Citing past judgments, Sapkal pointed out how decisions in politically sensitive cases, including the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha and judicial commentary on questions raised about China, have raised eyebrows. “It is not the judiciary’s job to determine who is patriotic or to protect the ruling government from criticism. When judges retire only to be rewarded with plum political postings like governor, MP, or ambassador, it damages the foundation of a fair and impartial judiciary,” he said.
Both leaders echoed the sentiment that the judiciary, one of the four pillars of democracy, must be insulated from political interference. “The current trend of politicising judicial appointments sets a dangerous precedent. The independence of the judiciary is at stake,” they warned.
Separately, Rohit Pawar also raised concerns about a ₹468 crore housing scam involving Avanti Group developer Shrikant Shitole in Thane. He alleged that the developer collected crores from homebuyers, promising flats within three years, but failed to deliver even after 14 years. Instead, the land was mortgaged for a ₹398 crore loan while buyers had already paid ₹150 crore. “People are now forced to protest and go on hunger strikes for their rights,” Pawar said.
He questioned the inaction of the Thane police commissioner despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allegedly ordering action against the developer. “If even the home minister’s orders are ignored, what justice can the common man expect?” he asked.
Pawar and Sapkal urged immediate corrective measures to restore public confidence in democratic and judicial systems.
