The appointment of BJP Maharashtra spokesperson Arati Sathe as a judge of the Bombay High Court has triggered political uproar, with opposition leaders warning it would erode public trust in the Indian judiciary and compromise its impartiality.  NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar slammed the move as "the greatest blow to justice," questioning how a politically affiliated individual could uphold judicial neutrality.

He said the appointment violated the principle of separation of powers and would have far-reaching consequences on the credibility of the judiciary.  "By appointing a spokesperson of the ruling party as a judge, the government has politicized the judiciary," Pawar said, demanding the decision be reconsidered. The BJP confirmed Sathe was a spokesperson but claimed she had resigned before her judicial appointment. 

The development has intensified concerns over the bias, politicization, and declining standards of India’s judicial system, with critics saying that the judiciary increasingly reflects the interests of the ruling elite instead of upholding constitutional justice.  

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)