The Supreme Court Collegium on Tuesday recommended three advocates for elevation as judges of the Bombay High Court..The three advocates recommended are:Shailesh Pramod Brahme;Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla; andJitendra Shantilal Jain..As per the Collegium resolution, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had made the recommendation for the elevation of these three lawyers on September 26, 2022. Seven months later, on April 26, 2023, the file concerning these recommendations was forwarded by the Department of Justice to the Supreme Court. The top court Collegium noted that the Chief Ministers and the Governors of the States of Maharashtra and Goa have concurred with the recommendations. .The Collegium's resolution to recommend the three advocates for elevation was made after considering several facts. Shailesh Pramod Brahme was recommended on noting that he is a competent lawyer with around 30 years practice in civil, criminal, constitutional and service law cases. Nothing adverse has been placed by the Department of Justice in his file. As regards Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla, the collegium said that while the intelligence Bureau has said that he has a good personal and professional image, another advocate he used to work under had written an article published in 2020 expressing concerns over the alleged lack of freedom of speech/expression in the country in the last 5-6 years. However, the collegium opined that the same does not affect his suitability for judgeship. It further noted that Pooniwalla professes Parsi Zoroastrianism and belongs to a minority community. With respect to Jitendra Shantilal Jain, the Collegium noted that he has practiced law for over 25 years with specialization in tax litigation. The Intelligence Bureau flagged some issues regarding his work in the chamber of another senior lawyer 20 years ago. However, on enquiry, the collegium said that the fact that Jain left the chamber of a senior has no bearing on his ability, competence or integrity..The Bombay High Court is currently functioning with 65 judges as opposed to its sanctioned strength of 94 judges..[Read Collegium Statement]
The Supreme Court Collegium on Tuesday recommended three advocates for elevation as judges of the Bombay High Court..The three advocates recommended are:Shailesh Pramod Brahme;Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla; andJitendra Shantilal Jain..As per the Collegium resolution, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had made the recommendation for the elevation of these three lawyers on September 26, 2022. Seven months later, on April 26, 2023, the file concerning these recommendations was forwarded by the Department of Justice to the Supreme Court. The top court Collegium noted that the Chief Ministers and the Governors of the States of Maharashtra and Goa have concurred with the recommendations. .The Collegium's resolution to recommend the three advocates for elevation was made after considering several facts. Shailesh Pramod Brahme was recommended on noting that he is a competent lawyer with around 30 years practice in civil, criminal, constitutional and service law cases. Nothing adverse has been placed by the Department of Justice in his file. As regards Firdosh Phiroze Pooniwalla, the collegium said that while the intelligence Bureau has said that he has a good personal and professional image, another advocate he used to work under had written an article published in 2020 expressing concerns over the alleged lack of freedom of speech/expression in the country in the last 5-6 years. However, the collegium opined that the same does not affect his suitability for judgeship. It further noted that Pooniwalla professes Parsi Zoroastrianism and belongs to a minority community. With respect to Jitendra Shantilal Jain, the Collegium noted that he has practiced law for over 25 years with specialization in tax litigation. The Intelligence Bureau flagged some issues regarding his work in the chamber of another senior lawyer 20 years ago. However, on enquiry, the collegium said that the fact that Jain left the chamber of a senior has no bearing on his ability, competence or integrity..The Bombay High Court is currently functioning with 65 judges as opposed to its sanctioned strength of 94 judges..[Read Collegium Statement]
