2 women among 6 new judges in Gujarat high court

Six newly appointed judges of the Gujarat high court will be taking the oath on February 17 in the court of the chief justice, after the President of India issued formal orders of appointments on Tuesday to the administrative wing of the HC.

Chief justice SJ Mukhopadhyay will administer the oath of office to the six newly appointed judges in the presence of their relatives, other HC judges, lawyers and HC employees.

Of the six, the two women judges are from the state judiciary. Sonia Gokani and Bela Trivedi held the posts of registrar (recruitment) of the HC and senior additional sessions judge (ASJ) in the city court respectively before being promoted as judges.

Now, in all there are four women judges in the high court including Justice Abhilasha Kumari and Justice HN Devani.

Two other judges who were elevated from the judiciary are GB Shah, registrar general (RG) of the HC, and PP Bhatt, ASJ and former (RG) of the HC. Two others, Jamshed Pardiwala, former standing counsel for the high court and RM Chhaya, standing counsel for the Government of India, have been selected from the lawyers' fraternity.

Earlier on February 8, the President's office had sent a communication to the Gujarat High Court administration to conclude the age verification process of the proposed judges.