| File:Arif Doctor.jpg
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| Born | 1972-7-17 (age 54) |
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| Born | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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| Alma mater | Government Law College, Mumbai
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Arif Saleh Doctor (born 17 July 1972) is an Indian judge serving as a Permanent Judge of the Bombay High Court. Appointed as an Additional Judge to that high court on 19 July 2022, and later confirmed as a Permanent Judge, he has presided over significant cases in civil, constitutional, arbitration, and public interest law.
Early life and education
Arif Saleh Doctor was born on 17 July 1972 in Mumbai, India. He completed his schooling at St. Mary's School, Mumbai and graduated with a degree in Economics and Political Science from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. He earned his law degree from Government Law College, Mumbai.[1][2]
Legal career
Doctor enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in 1998. He practiced under Senior Advocate Darius J. Khambata, appearing before the Supreme Court of India, the Bombay High Court, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), and other tribunals.[3][2][4]
His practice focused on civil, constitutional, company, environmental, and admiralty law, as well as domestic and international arbitrations. From 2009 to 2012, he served as a Panel Counsel for the Union of India.[2][5]
Judicial career
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on 19 July 2022.[3] On 14 December 2023, the Collegium of the High Court of Bombay unanimously recommended his name for appointment as a permanent Judge of the Bombay High Court.[6]
On 13 March 2024, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended that Doctor, be appointed as a permanent Judge of the Bombay High Court.[6] He was elevated to Permanent Judge on 21 March 2024.[1][7]
He has presided over notable cases, including:
• Redevelopment Law: Ruled that minority members of housing societies cannot obstruct redevelopment projects approved by a majority, impacting urban real estate disputes.[8]
• Arbitration: Upheld a foreign arbitral award, reinforcing India’s pro-arbitration stance, and clarified the scope of interim relief under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.[9]
• Public Interest: Addressed cases involving illegal hoardings, fire safety guidelines, public healthcare, and stray dog feeding rights.[10]
• Professional Ethics: In a notable 2025 ruling, alongside Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Doctor criticized a senior lawyer for blaming a junior for a case dismissal, directing the senior to gift a book on the Constitution to the junior.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Justice Arif Saleh Doctor appointed as Permanent Judge - Bombay High Court | Indian Bureaucracy | IAS, IPS, IFS Transfers, Government Appointments & PSU News(12 April 2024). Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 CDJ Law Journal. www.cdjlawjournal.com. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Centre appoints 9 advocates as additional judges of Bombay High Court, www.ETGovernment.com. ETGovernment.com. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ Official Website of High Court of Bombay. bombayhighcourt.nic.in. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ↑ Arif Salef Doctor - Independent Director at Sterling and Wilson. THE ORG. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Supreme Court of India Additional Judge Recommendation. cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in(2023-12-14). Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ↑ https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2015990 Template:Bare URL inline
- ↑ Bombay High Court Orders Costs Against Non-Consenting Members in Cooperative Housing Society Redevelopment, Bhimani, Sulaiman. The Law Suits(1 August 2024). Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ Court Cannot Go Into Merits While Enforcing Foreign Award U/S 48 Of Arbitration Act: Bombay High Court, Chauhan, Mohd Malik. www.livelaw.in(28 November 2024). Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ Cannot permit illegal hoardings of political, commercial or religious organisations in public space: Bombay High Court, Joshi, Neha. Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news(22 February 2024). Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ↑ Gift her book on Constitution: Bombay HC to advocate who blamed his junior for dismissal of appeal. The Times of India(3 September 2023). Retrieved 18 August 2025.