IN AN unexpected decision, Justice Rohit Baban Deo, Judge at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court, tendered his resignation from office and announced it in open court, on Friday. The legal fraternity was shocked by the sudden decision of Justice Deo, who is well-known for his straightforwardness. Justice Deo entered Courtroom B at 11 am on Friday and announced his resignation. Subsequently, he also discharged the board consisting of listed matters for the day. According to lawyers present in the courtroom, Justice Deo said, “Those who are present in the court, I apologise to each one of you. I scolded you because I wanted you to improve. I do not want to hurt any of you because you all are like a family to me, and I am sorry to tell you that I have submitted my resignation. You people work hard.” Later, speaking to ‘The Hitavada’ at his bungalow, Justice Deo said that the decision was purely personal and he would talk about it later. Asked whether a transfer order had anything to do with his decision, Justice Deo replied negatively. Sources claimed that a transfer order to Allahabad High Court was conveyed to Justice Deo on Thursday at 11 pm. Regarding a text message that went viral on social media with a line, “I can’t work against my self-respect,” Justice Deo stated he had never said such a thing in the court.

 

Justice Deo’s resignation surprised the  legal fraternity. Hundreds of lawyers, sitting judges, and exjudges phoned him inquiring about his sudden move. Reacting to Justice Deo’s resignation, Adv Atul Pande, President of High Court Bar Association, said, “Justice Deo was a hard worker and straightforward person. We have lost another Judge after Justice Pushpa Ganediwala, who had resigned on February 11 last year, a day before the end of her tenure as Bombay High Court additional judge. This is a setback for the Nagpur High Court as the strength of sitting judges has reduced to 10 as against the sanctioned post of 14.” Deo had shot into the limelight last year when he passed an order in October acquitting Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who was sentenced for alleged Maoist links by the District Court. Recently, he passed an order staying a GR pertaining to contractors of the Samruddhi Expressway. Born on December 5, 1963, a native of Nagpur City, and a student of Law College, Nagpur, Justice Deo became a practicing lawyer in 1986. He was appointed Assistant Solicitor General for the Central Government in 2014 and Advocate General of Maharashtra in 2016. He rose to the position of additional judge of the Bombay High Court on June 5, 2017, and was made a permanent judge on April 12, 2019. He was to retire on December 4, 2025. When asked who inspired him to enter legal field, Justice Deo replied, “I inspired myself.”