The Supreme Court Collegium has officially approved the proposal to appoint six Additional Judges of the High Court of Bombay as Permanent Judges. The decision was finalized during the Collegium’s meeting held on May 18, 2026.
The statement, issued under the emblem of the Supreme Court of India (Yato Dharmastato Jayah), marks a key administrative step in securing the tenure of the sitting judges at the Bombay High Court.
The Appointees
The six Additional Judges approved for permanent appointments are:
- Ms. Justice Nivedita Prakash Mehta
- Shri Justice Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar
- Shri Justice Ashwin Damodar Bhobe
- Shri Justice Rohit Wasudeo Joshi
- Shri Justice Advait Mahendra Sethna
- Shri Justice Pravin Sheshrao Patil
Background of the Appointees
The judicial career progression of the recommended judges highlights a transition from active bar practice to the high court bench:
- October 2024 Appointments: Five of the recommended judges—Ms. Justice Nivedita Prakash Mehta, Shri Justice Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar, Shri Justice Ashwin Damodar Bhobe, Shri Justice Rohit Wasudeo Joshi, and Shri Justice Advait Mahendra Sethna—were initially elevated from the Bar as Additional Judges of the Bombay High Court following a presidential notification on October 23, 2024. They subsequently assumed charge of their offices on October 25, 2024, with their initial terms slated to run until October 24, 2026.
- January 2025 Appointment: Shri Justice Pravin Sheshrao Patil, formerly an advocate, was recommended for elevation by the Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting on December 22, 2024. His appointment as an Additional Judge was formally notified by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, on January 23, 2025, and he was sworn into office on January 27, 2025.
In accordance with the established constitutional procedure for the appointment and permanency of high court judges, the Supreme Court Collegium assessed the performance and suitability of the six Additional Judges. Upon review of the relevant material and consultations, the Collegium approved the proposal to make their appointments permanent.
With the Collegium’s recommendation now formally recorded, the proposal will be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice for processing, after which the President of India will issue the formal warrants of appointment.
