Justice Alok Aradhe takes oath as the 48th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, administered by Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan | X
Mumbai: Justice Alok Aradhe was sworn in as the 48th Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday evening. The oath of office was administered by Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan.
His appointment was confirmed through a Central Government notification issued on January 13, 2025. Justice Aradhe succeeds Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, who led the court for 18 months before assuming charge as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rahul Narwekar, Minister of Skill Development Mangal Prabhat Lodha, judges of the Bombay High Court and senior government officers were present.
During his tenure at the Telangana High Court, Justice Aradhe made notable contributions, including laying the foundation for a new High Court building at Rajendranagar in March 2024, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 2,580 crore.
Under his leadership, the court also achieved a significant reduction in case pendency — from 2,38,173 cases in July 2023 to 2,29,148 in January 2025. A total of 8,404 cases, including 6,177 main matters, were resolved during this period. Additionally, live streaming of court proceedings began in August 2023, ensuring greater transparency and public accessibility.
Justice Aradhe, known for his efficiency and progressive approach, highlighted the achievements of the Telangana High Court during his farewell. He noted the court’s distinction as one of the youngest in India with the highest number of women judges.
He had served as its Chief Justice since July 2023 and previously held judicial positions in Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka High Courts. Born on April 13, 1964, in Raipur, he completed his B.Sc. and LLB before enrolling as an advocate in 1988.
With expertise in civil, constitutional, arbitration, and company matters, he was designated as a senior advocate in 2007 and appointed an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2009. His tenure as a judge extends until April 2026.
In recent judgments, Justice Aradhe resolved a 66-year-old Nizam-era property dispute, ruling that the claim was based on non-existent plots. He also upheld the Telangana Government Property (Preservation, Protection, and Resumption) Act, 2007, which reclaimed 800 acres of land sold to IMG Academics. Additionally, his bench quashed the nominations of MLCs under the Governor’s quota, delivering a setback to the Congress-led Telangana government.
The Bombay High Court, the second-largest in India after the Allahabad High Court, currently has 67 judges — 52 permanent and 15 additional — including 11 women. With Justice Aradhe’s appointment, the court’s strength will rise to 68.
