Aarti Sathe, a legal professional specialising in complex tax disputes, has been recommended as a judge of the Bombay High Court on July 28. Aarti is no stranger to the RSS and earlier served as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spokesperson. Aarti, along with two other lawyers, will be inducted as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court.
Born in Maharashtra into a family of legal professionals, Sathe has seen courts, cases, debates, and legal drama since her childhood days in Mumbai. Aarti has not usually been in the limelight and has preferred to work from the background. However, the recent row over her appointment as a judge has drawn significant attention and criticism.
“I do not want to comment on the politics, but those attacking her should judge her professionally. She has carved out her identity through hard work. Also, she will be on probation and will have to prove herself while her judgments will be closely watched by everyone. Why is the opposition targeting BJP through a professional advocate?” said a senior lawyer to the national media.
Aarti has over 20 years of legal experience and has primarily dealt with tax disputes, specialising in direct tax matters. She has argued cases before the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), and the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT). She has also taken up matrimonial disputes before the Bombay High Court, as well as other related cases in the Supreme Court and various high courts across the country. She has worked with Economic Laws Practice (ELP) and was earlier part of senior lawyer Percy Pardiwalla’s chamber.
Sathe’s family has been associated with the RSS and BJP for some time. Her father, Arun Sathe, himself a well-known lawyer, is the brother of former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan—also a member of the BJP’s national executive and one of the founding members of the party.
Sathe was formally appointed as the spokesperson of the Mumbai BJP in February 2023, but according to sources, she was not regularly seen at the party office like other office bearers. Aarti also served as the head of the Mumbai BJP’s legal cell but resigned from the post and the primary membership of the party in January 2024. Despite her resignation, Aarti continued to participate in seminars and forums linked to the party and the RSS. In the same sphere, she championed the cause of women’s roles in jobs and education.
“Women should collaborate with each other, giving wings and impetus… They should work with like-minded people from all walks of life,” said Sathe at one such event conducted in close collaboration with the RSS and BJP.
The opposition has strongly criticised the appointment of Aarti Sathe, questioning the BJP for appointing “an individual affiliated to a political party to such a high post.”