Supreme Court has asked the court not to uphold Judge Pushpa Ganediwala

The Supreme Court collegium has decided not to uphold Additional Judge Pushpa Ganediwala of the Bombay High Court, which has issued several controversial orders, including the POSCO case. The decision was taken at a collegium meeting chaired by Chief Justice NV Ramana. The apex court’s move comes as Pushpa Ganediwala’s additional judge expires next February.

Earlier, the Center had intervened and softened the Supreme Court’s decision not to grant them permanent status following controversial orders. The Center had decided in favor of Judge Pushpa Ganediwala by reducing the recommendation of the collegium to extend the post of Additional Judge for two years to one year. At the same time, the Center had blocked the decision of the collegium not to appoint a permanent judge immediately.

The apex court has now stayed the permanent rule of Judge Pushpa Ganediwala in the Bombay High Court overturning the Centre’s decision. With this, Justice Ganediwala, an interim judge in the Bombay High Court, will have to return to the post of District Judge when his term expires in February.

Pushpa Ganediwala’s ruling that touching the outside of clothing without direct contact with the body could not be considered sexual harassment was highly controversial. The judgment was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the collegium has decided to appoint three other judicial judges to the Bombay High Court.

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