Bombay HC Justice Dharmadhikari quits

Mumbai : Reluctant to take up his elevation and transfer as Chief Justice of another High Court, the second senior-most judge of the Bombay High Court, Justice Satyaranjan C Dharmadhikari on Friday resigned, citing "personal and family" constraints.

Hailing from a prominent legal-judicial family of central India, Justice Dharmadhikari, 61, sent his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind.

"I have demitted office. Today is my last day," Justice Dharmadhikari informed a stunned courtroom here on Thursday morning, sending shockwaves in judicial circles. In a brief media interaction later, he said: "I have to quit purely for personal and family issues.

I want to be with my family. I do not want to leave Mumbai and they were not willing to elevate me as (Acting) Chief Justice here."

However, Justice Dharmadhikari plans to continue living in Mumbai along with his wife, a son and daughter and pursue law-related activities.

The Dharmadhikari family was associated with Mahatma Gandhi, the Sarvodaya and Satyagraha movements, and is known for its legal and judiciary services since generations.