Bombay HC Acting CJ Justice Ghuge Appointed Calcutta HC Chief Justice; Maratha Quota Case to Get Fresh Bench

Justice Ravindra Ghuge, who served as Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, according to a Centre notification issued on September 5. Ghuge, who served as a judge at the Bombay High Court for over 13 years, bid farewell to the court on Monday at a full court function.

His elevation will impact Maharashtra's significant legal battle over the State's 10 per cent Maratha reservation law. Ghuge was heading the three-judge bench hearing the challenge to this reservation in education and public employment. With his departure, the bench composition will change and a fresh three-judge bench must be constituted, potentially requiring the matter to be heard afresh and delaying a final verdict on the law's validity.

Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi of the Allahabad High Court has been appointed the next Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and is expected to take oath on September 9.