Justice Rohit Deo's resignation shocks open courtroom

In a surprising development, Justice Rohit Deo of the Bombay High Court announced his resignation in an open courtroom, citing personal reasons for his decision. The announcement took place in Nagpur, where the high court has a bench. Justice Deo emphasized that he couldn't compromise on his self-respect, leading him to take this step. He apologized to everyone present in the courtroom, expressing his regard for them as family. The matters listed before him for the day were subsequently discharged. He clarified that the resignation was due to personal reasons and that he had already sent his resignation letter to the President of India. In 2022, Justice Deo made headlines when he acquitted former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba in a case involving alleged Maoist links. He set aside the life imprisonment awarded to Saibaba, highlighting the absence of valid sanction under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and declaring the trial proceedings null and void. Recently, Justice Deo had also intervened in a Maharashtra Government Resolution, staying its operation. The resolution empowered the state to cancel punitive proceedings initiated by the revenue department concerning illegal excavation of minor minerals by contractors involved in the construction of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway. Justice Deo had been serving as a judge of the Bombay High Court since June 2017 and was initially scheduled to retire in December 2025. Before that, he held the position of Advocate General of Maharashtra in 2016.