Historic Judicial Collaboration: Singapore Judges Join Bombay High Court Benches

For the first time, three judges from Singapore's Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, participated in Bombay High Court benches. The judges addressed petitions challenging Maratha community reservation in Maharashtra. This significant event marks judicial collaboration between Singapore and India.

In an unprecedented move, three judges from Singapore's Supreme Court, including its Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, were present on Bombay High Court benches on Friday.

Chief Justice Menon joined Bombay HC's Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya alongside Justices GS Kulkarni and Firdosh Pooniwalla on a Ceremonial Bench in the historic central courtroom.

The bench heard brief arguments against the Maratha community reservation in Maharashtra.

Justice Ramesh Kannan from Singapore's apex court was on a bench with Justices Nitin Jamdar and MM Sathaye, while Justice Andre Francis Maniam shared the Ceremonial Bench with HC Justices KR Shriram and Jitendra Jain.

Welcoming Singapore's Chief Justice Menon, CJ Upadhyaya recalled Menon's previous visit to Bombay in 2015. Advocate General Birendra Saraf highlighted that the courtroom was historically significant due to the trial of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Saraf noted that Chief Justice Menon shared similar ideas on judicial collaboration as India's Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud.

Senior counsel Pradeep Sancheti contested the legality of Maratha reservation. Before departing, CJ Menon expressed gratitude to the court.

(With inputs from agencies.)