Distinguished Honorary Visiting Professors

Hon'ble Shri Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was born on November 9, 1957. His Lordship enrolled as an Advocate in June, 1983 and practised in the High Court of Bombay till December, 1985. Thereafter, His Lordship shifted practice to Delhi in January, 1986. His Lordship was designated as Senior Advocate by the Supreme Court in April, 2004. His Lordship appeared as Amicus Curiae in many matters. His Lordship was appointed as Special Public Prosecutor for CBI to conduct trial in all 2G matters under the orders of the Supreme Court of India. His Lordship was also a Member of Supreme Court of India Legal Services Committee for two terms. His Lordship was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India on August 13, 2014 and elevated as the Chief Justice of India w.e.f. 27.08.2022.

Hon’ble Shri Justice Hemant L. Gokhale was born on 10.3.1949 at Baroda and studied at Bal Mohan Vidya Mandir, Ramnarain Ruia College, Govt. Law College and University of Mumbai at Mumbai. His Lordship did M.A in Economics and Political Science, LL.M. with Constitutional and International Law and obtained 1st Rank at the LL.M. examination in the University of Mumbai. His Lordship enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra on 20.01.1973, practiced in Civil, Constitutional, Labour and Service Laws and specialized in Industrial and Service matters. His Lordship worked as part-time Professor of Law at the Government Law College, Mumbai during 1977-84. His Lordship also worked as an Assistant Government Pleader to the State of Maharashtra in the Bombay High Court on the Original as well as Appellate Sides during 1984 to 1989. His Lordship was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on 20.1.1994 and immediately on appointment transferred to the Gujarat High Court on 04.02.1994. His Lordship was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Gujarat High Court on 23.01.1995. His Lordship was transferred back to the Bombay High Court on 25.02.1999. His Lordship became Acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court on 07.01.2007. His Lordship was appointed as Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court on 07.03.2007 and transferred to Madras High Court on 09.03.2009. His Lordship was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 30.4.2010.

Hon’ble Justice Vineet Kothari was born on 2nd September, 1959. His Lordship has served as the Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Gujarat before serving as a Senior Most Puisne Judge of the High Court of Gujarat. His Lordship has decided approximately 23000 cases in Rajasthan High Court, 14000 cases in Karnataka High Court and 8000 in Madras High Court mostly on Civil and Tax Laws and a few Criminal Appeals. His Lordship has practiced as a Tax and Constitutional Lawyer in Rajasthan High Court, after enrolment by Bar Council of Rajasthan. As a Lawyer, he has practiced in Tax & other Commercial and Constitutional Laws, Arbitration & Company Law for 20 years in Rajasthan High Court & Supreme Court of India. His Lordship has contributed papers for National Conferences and International Conferences on International Taxation and other Allied Subjects in various European Countries at Amsterdam, Helsinki, Switzerland and Brisbane, Australia etc. His Lordship is also the Honorary Director on the Board of International Association of Tax Judges (IATJ) and Member of C.M.J.A., London.

Hon’ble Shri Justice R. C. Chavan was born on 12th April 1952 at Nagpur. His Lordship completed the degree of B.Sc. at the Institute of Science, Nagpur. His Lordship obtained LL.B Degree in the first Division from University of College of Law at Nagpur while serving in the Reserve Bank of India at Nagpur.

His Lordship obtained degree of Master of Laws in the first division securing the highest number of marks, from the Department of Post Graduate teaching in Law at Nagpur University. His Lordship also served for a term as a Contributory lecturer in the Department of Post Graduate teaching in Law at Nagpur University.

His Lordship joined Judicial Service as Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Judicial Magistrate First Class on 1st March 1976 and served at Washim in Akola District, at Arvi in Wardha District, Kelapur in Yavatmal District and at Jalgaon. His Lordship promoted as Civil Judge (Senior Division) in July 1985 and as an Additional District and Sessions Judge in March 1987. His Lordship served as an Additional District and Session Judge at Jalgaon and Thane and Joint District and Sessions Judge at Nashik. His Lordship also appointed as Joint Director, Judicial Officers Training Institute at Nagpur and served as such from 1990 to 1994. His Lordship worked as District and Sessions Judge at Nanded, Aurangabad, Daman and Diu and Pune.

His Lordship is also actively associated with Maharashtra State Judges Association and served as its President from 1997 to 2000. His Lordship is closely associated with work of the working of the First National Judicial Pay Commission and served as Working President of All India Judges Association for some time.

His Lordship took keen interest in academic and other activities and participated in various conferences and seminars on Environmental Law, Environmental Economics, AIDS, Gender Justice and Arbitration. His Lordship also worked as guest Faculty at the Institute of Military Law and visited Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for evaluation of performance of IAS probationers.

His Lordship served as Additional Registrar, Registrar and the first Registrar General of Bombay High Court and elevated to Bench on 22nd June 2005. His Lordship was appointed as President State Consumer Redressal Forum w.e.f. 19/09/2013

Hon’ble Shri Justice Ravindra M. Borde was born on 11th August, 1957. His Lordship completed B. A. from Marathwada University, Aurangabad, and LL.B. from ILS Law College, Pune. His Lordship enrolled as an Advocate on 29th October, 1980 and joined the Chamber of his father, Late Shri Manoharrao Borde, a distinguished advocate practicing on criminal side at Beed. On establishment of the Bench of High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad, His Lordship shifted to Aurangabad in November, 1981, and joined as a junior in the chamber of Hon’ble Shri Justice A. B. Naik. His Lordship was associated with Hon’ble Justice A. B. Naik, for a period of five years. His Lordship conducted various types of Civil and Criminal matters as well as Constitutional matters including Service and Cooperative cases. His Lordship represented Zilla Parishad Parbhani, Municipal Council Beed, Municipal Council Kopargaon, Municipal Council Dharur and several other local bodies. His Lordship also represented Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), the Central Council of Homeopathy and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). His Lordship was Secretary of the Bar Association, High Court of Bombay Bench at Aurangabad during 1991-92. His Lordship also rendered services as Part time Lecturer in M. P. Law College, Aurangabad for a period of two years. His Lordship retired as a Judge of the High Court of Bombay at Mumbai in 2019. His Lordship has also been associated with Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad since its inception in various capacities, such as, Chairman of Building Committee, Member of Planning Board, Executive Council and General Council of Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad.

Hon’ble Dr. (Mrs.) Shalini Shashank Phansalkar-Joshi served as Judge, High Court of Bombay from 2015-2019. After completing 'Masters' and 'Doctorate' in 'Law' in the subject of "Child Sexual Abuse from Socio-Legal Perspective", joined 'Judiciary' and completed 30 years of judicial service. Her Ladyship worked in the various cadres as 'District and Sessions Judge', as 'Special Court for Atrocities against Women', as 'Judge' of the Family Court, Juvenile Justice Board, joined as 'Director' of Maharashtra Judicial Academy and as 'Principal Judge', City Civil Court, Bombay and conducted thousands of criminal trials and civil cases.

Her Ladyship participated in the six weeks 'Training Programme' at England on the subject of "Gender and Law" and three weeks 'Judicial Training Programme' at 'Commonwealth Judicial Institute' in Canada.

Her Ladyship acted as a 'Resource Person' in several 'Training Programmes' conducted for 'Judicial Officers', 'Public Prosecutors', 'Police Officers' and other 'Stake-Holders' on various subjects, relating to "Gender and Law", and “Matrimonial Proceedings, Juvenile Justice" and so on.

Her Ladyship authored the 'Training Module' and 'Hand-Book' on "Human Trafficking" with UNDP and Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India; and on "Sex Selection and PCPNDT Act" with UNFPA. Her Ladyship published various articles in 'Law Journals'.

Hon’ble Shri Justice Vishwas K. Jadhav was born on 17.05.1960 at Beed, District Beed. His father and mother both were freedom-fighters. After completing school education, His Lordship completed graduation in Commerce faculty from Balbhim College, Beed. His Lordship was a student of M.P. Law College, Aurangabad and obtained degree in law (LL.B.). His Lordship joined the legal profession in the year 1982 and practiced on both Civil and Criminal sides in the District and Sessions Court at Beed, for 18 years. His Lordship was selected as an Additional District Judge and appointed on the said post at Osmanabad on 06.10.2000 and worked as such till 31.12.2003. His Lordship was the Registrar at Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court from 01.01.2004 to 16.05.2006 and thereafter worked as District Judge-3 from 17.05.2006 to 11.06.2006 and District Judge-4 from 12.06.2006 to 02.06.2007 in the District and Sessions Court at Aurangabad. His Lordship also worked as Member Secretary of Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MALSA), Bombay from 04.06.2007 to 29.02.2008 and was posted as Principal District Judge at Osmanabad from 05.03.2008 to 10.02.2009. His Lordship also worked as Registrar (Inspection) at Bombay High Court from 11.02.2009 to 05.06.2010. Thereafter, His Lordship was posted as Principal District Judge at Jalna from 07.06.2010 to 12.06.2012. His Lordship has also worked as Charity Commissioner of Maharashtra State from 18.06.2012 to 02.03.2014. His Lordship was elevated as Additional Judge of Bombay High Court on 03.03.2014.

Hon’ble Shri Justice P. R. Bora was born and brought up at Dhule. His Lordship joined judiciary in the year 2000 as an Additional District Judge at Nagpur. During the span of 14 years, His Lordship worked as Member, Industrial Court at Mumbai, Principal District Judge at Ratnagiri, then at Kolhapur and thereafter at Nasik. His Lordship also served as Member Secretary of Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, Registrar at High Court, Bombay, Registrar at Supreme Court of India and Joint Director, Maharashtra Judicial Academy. His Lordship was appointed as Additional Judge of Bombay High Court on 3rd March, 2014.

Hon’ble Shri Justice Sangitrao S. Patil was born on 16th October 1956 and Completed Graduation in Arts College at Chalisgaon, District Jalgaon. His Lordship passed LL.B. with First Class and stood first in the order of merit in Symbiosis Law College, Pune, and Second in Pune University. His Lordship practiced as an Advocate initially at Dhule and then at Chalisgaon. His Lordship joined Judiciary as Civil Judge, Junior Division and J.M.F.C. at Bhandara on 11-4-1988. His Lordship got promoted as Additional District Judge in June 1997. His Lordship worked as Additional Registrar / Registrar in the High Court of Bombay from March 2001 to May 2004 and February 2009 to April 2011 in the Departments of Establishment / Personnel, Vigilance and Legal and Research. His Lordship worked as Principal District Judge, Aurangabad, from April 2011 to June 2013; as Chief Judge of Court of Small Causes, Mumbai, from June 2013 to December 2013; as Law Secretary from January 2014 to August 2014 and as the Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Greater Bombay, from August 2014 till elevation (i.e. 28-03-2016) as the Judge of the Bombay High Court. His Lordship worked as the President of the Maharashtra State Judges' Association from March 2012 to April 2015. His Lordship also worked as the Coordinator for induction training centre at WALMI Aurangabad, for four batches of the Judicial Officers of the cadre of Civil Judges, Junior Division and Judicial Magistrates, First Class, during 2004 to 2006.

Hon’ble Justice Datuk Dr. Hj. Hamid Sultan Bin Abu Backer, is a Honorary Fellow, Middle East Institute (MEI), National University of Singapore; and a Honorary Visiting Professor, Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam, India. His Lordship has served as an Adjunct Professor of International Islamic University Malaysia and Multimedia University, Malaysia (MMU). His Lordship is also Panel Advisor of Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM), as well as a Barrister and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London). His Lordship’s doctoral thesis was on Civil Procedure and Justice. His Lordship is also a graduate in Economics and holds a Master's Degree in Insurance, Shipping and Syariah Law with Honours from University of London. His Lordship holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Islamic Banking and Finance and in Syariah Law and Practice International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Prior to His Lordship’s elevation to the Bench, he had served as a member of the Malaysian Bar Council for over 6 years and held various positions including Chairman of several committees. His Lordship has been invited as a visiting Scholar to speak at the University of Sheffield in United Kingdom. His Lordship also spoke on the Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in England at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London as well as at the City University of London, Attorney General Chambers, Sri Lanka, Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, Leeds University, England, 'Maison du Barreau de Paris, Paris, EBS University Wiesbaden, Germany, Hong Kong, University etc. His Lordship presented paper on University cum Court Annexed Arbitration Concept in many countries and conferences including the U.K., Maldives, Papua New Guinea, India, etc. His Lordship had also spoken on Arbitration Clause in Islamic Finance Facilities in Doha, Hamad Bin Khalifa University Qatar; His Lordship participates in various other activities of universities such as examiner of Ph.D. thesis, external examiner, Guest Speaker at International Conferences, etc. His Lordship has written over one thousand judgments which had covered various areas of the law. His Lordship has authored books on many subjects including Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Conveyancing, Islamic Banking, Legal Remedies, International and Domestic Arbitration as well as on other areas of Commercial Law. His books are widely used as text books in most institutions of higher learning, as well as by those involved in the practice and administration of law in Malaysia.

Dr. Siva Sankara Rao was born on 29.03.1959 (recorded date of birth is-10-04-1957) at Sakurru Village of Amalapuram Mandal, East Godavari District. His Lordship pursued his academics at Sakurru, Bandarlanka and Amalapuram till Degree in Commerce. His Lordship pursued legal education from Andhra University and Kakatiya University. His Lordship completed Ph.D. in Law from Acharya Nagarjuna University with the research topic “Role of Family in Child Development vis-a-vis Child in conflict with Law in Indian Context”. His Lordship enrolled as an Advocate in March, 1984 and joined the office of Sri Palagummi Surya Rao and also attached to Sri Duvvuri Markandeyulu of Amalapuram and practiced in East Godavari. His Lordship entered the Judicial Service in the year 1996 as District & Sessions Judge (entry level) having stood first in written and viva-voce on merit in the composite state). His Lordship elevated as Additional Judge, High Court of Andhra Pradesh on 23-10-2013, and later became permanent Judge in the composite state and while so serving, allotted to the state of Telangana. While serving in the Judiciary His Lordship delivered numerous landmark judgments which paved the way to his contemporary as well as future Judges and Judicial officers. In addition, His Lordship has passion towards academics and completed his LL.D (Doctor of Laws) from Chanakya National Law University, (CNLU), Patna on the topic “Transformative Justice from Punitive to Restorative in the Indian Context – An Empirical Study” under the esteemed guidance of Prof. A. Lakshminath, formerly Vice – chancellor, CNLU, a senior, eminent, renowned, professor in the field of Law and Prof. Dr. L. Jayasri of Acharya Nagarjuna University. His Lordship authored several books in the field of law and contributed several articles including those of contemporary relevancy some of which published even in the referred International Journals. His Lordship contributed to guide the subordinate judiciary, various articles and circulated free of cost in the form of a booklet as a guide for judicial and ministerial officers and staff. With due respects to the integrity and knowledge, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has appointed His Lordship as Judge- Judicial Preview which is one of the prestigious promises of the Government to implement transparency in the infrastructure bidding process in the state through judicial preview.

Hon’ble Shri Justice K. N. Phaneendra born on 20-05-1958. His Lordship enrolled as an Advocate on 07-08-1985 and practiced in Tumkur District on Civil and Criminal matters. His Lordship directly recruited as District and Sessions Judge on 17-06-1998 and served as Additional District and Sessions Judge at Bangalore and Shimoga and as Principal District and Sessions Judge at Udupi, Haveri and Belgaum. His Lordship also served as Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Justice, High Court of Karnataka, as Director, Bangalore Mediation Centre and as Principal Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Department of Law, Justice and Human Rights. His Lordship was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on 24-10-2013 and Permanent Judge on 04.03.2016.