Rohit Pawar Raises Concerns Over Aarti Sathe’s Appointment as Bombay HC Judge, Says “Autonomous Bodies Being Politicised Since 2014”

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar has raised strong objections to the appointment of Aarti Sathe—a former BJP spokesperson—as a judge of the Bombay High Court, linking the development to what he calls a “politicisation of autonomous institutions” since 2014.

Reacting sharply to Sathe’s elevation to the judiciary, Rohit Pawar said, “If you look at today’s political system, there has been a big change in politics. Before 2014, everyone respected the Election Commission and considered it an autonomous body functioning independently without control. But today, whether it is the Election Commission, ED, or CBI—although these are autonomous bodies—they are still used for political agendas.”

He added, “Since 2014, even these autonomous bodies have been exploited for political purposes. So, the political situation has changed.” Pawar’s remarks come amidst growing criticism from opposition leaders who allege that key institutions in the country are being systematically undermined and used for political gain under the BJP-led central government.

While Aarti Sathe’s judicial qualifications and legal experience have not been questioned directly, her past association as a BJP spokesperson has raised concerns among critics about potential bias and politicization within the judiciary. Her appointment was recently cleared and notified after recommendations from the collegium.