New Delhi: The appointment of Advocate Arati Arun Sathe, a former spokesperson of the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as a judge of the Bombay High Court has triggered a wave of criticism and concern from opposition leaders and civil society over the growing saffronisation of institutions, reported the Clarion India.
Sathe’s name was among three recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium and officially appointed last week. Alongside her, Bhagwantrao Kadehankar and Sushil Manohar Ghodeswar were also elevated as judges of the Bombay High Court.
The decision has drawn sharp responses, particularly from Rohit Pawar, MLA and General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction). He questioned the implications of appointing a former political spokesperson to a position that demands judicial neutrality.
Pawar shared a screenshot of Sathe’s BJP appointment letter on social media, highlighting her direct association with the ruling party. “The appointment of someone who has been the voice of the ruling party is a direct blow to democracy. It raises serious doubts about the impartiality of the judiciary,” he said.
He further raised constitutional concerns, invoking the principle of separation of powers, and stated that such appointments risk turning the judiciary into a “political battleground.” “Legal qualification alone is not enough. If political loyalties determine judicial appointments, how can we ensure justice free from political influence?” he asked.
Pawar urged the government to reconsider Sathe’s elevation and called upon the Chief Justice of India to provide guidance on maintaining the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
In response to the controversy, Navnath Bang, head of the Maharashtra BJP media cell, acknowledged that Sathe had served as a party spokesperson but clarified that she had resigned from the post before her judicial appointment. “She no longer holds any official position within the BJP,” Bang asserted, suggesting that there was no conflict of interest at the time of her appointment.
However, this is not an isolated incident. Across various sectors, individuals linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP continue to be appointed to key positions. In Uttar Pradesh, nearly 40% of appointments to the OBC and SC Commissions reportedly involve individuals with RSS affiliations.
Among them are Sohanlal Shrimali, RSS co-provincial secretary and current Vice Chairman of the OBC Commission; and Baidyanath Rawat, longtime RSS associate and head of the SC Commission. Other prominent members with RSS backgrounds include Vinod Singh Patel, Vinod Yadav, Kuldeep Vishwakarma, Bechan Ram, Vinay Ram, Mithai Lal, and Ajay Kori.
Critics argue these trends indicate increasing convergence between the BJP and the RSS in shaping government institutions, raising alarm bells about the erosion of democratic norms and institutional impartiality.
