MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday got two new Judges. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe of the High Court administered the oath to two advocates, Gautam Ankhad and Mahendra Nerlikar, as additional judges of the High Court. The central govt on July 4 notified the appointment of the two members of the bar as additional Judges of the High Court for two years.The appointment came nearly nine months after the Supreme Court Collegium, led by then Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, recommended the names of the two lawyers through its resolution of September 24, 2024. The appointments were made during the tenure of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, who ensured the vacancy at the High Court was reduced by two.Justice Ankhad is a Mumbai lawyer, while Justice Nerlikar is from Aurangabad, where he was the additional public prosecutor. With the new appointments, the judge strength of the High Court is now 65 out of the sanctioned strength of 94. The vacancy now stands at 29, or over 30 percent.Chief Justice Aradhe said, “We all were surprised at the speed with which the notification of the new judges came.” He added, “This would not have happened without Chief Justice of India Gavai’s intervention.” Chief Justice Aradhe, with a smile, mentioned, “Justice Ankhad even confided in me that he didn’t have any reaction time.”
