Arif S. Doctor | |
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 Official portrait | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1972 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Education | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai |
| Alma mater | Government Law College, Mumbai |
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 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.
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]
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]
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]
Doctor was later 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]