The Bombay Bar Association (BBA) has issued a strong condemnation against recent threats and acts of violence directed at former Bombay High Court Justice Gautam Patel and his family. These incidents are reportedly linked to Justice Patel’s 2024 ruling regarding the leadership dispute within the Dawoodi Bohra community. The resolution, dated June 8, 2026, highlights the severity of the situation, particularly as a member of Justice Patel’s family suffered a physical attack.
The BBA resolution underscores that any violence or intimidation towards judges or their family members undermines judicial independence and is an affront to the rule of law. It is not just a personal attack on a judge but a broader assault on the judiciary as an institution and its constitutional role to adjudicate without influence or intimidation. The resolution further asserts that in a lawful society, judicial decisions should only be challenged through legal channels, such as appeals, not through coercion or violence.
In response to these threats, the BBA has called for a swift and comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible. It also emphasized the need for authorities to implement robust measures to protect judges and their families from such threats. Additionally, the resolution appeals to the Ministry of External Affairs to engage with UK authorities to ensure the safety of Justice Patel’s family, following an attack on his daughter in London that resulted in a fractured nose.
Justice Patel commented on the attack, deeming it an attack on the judiciary itself and a challenge to the integrity of the legal system. He expressed concern that such incidents could affect ongoing judicial processes, specifically referencing the appeal related to his previous ruling.
The context of the threats traces back to a contentious succession dispute within the Dawoodi Bohra community following the death of their 52nd leader, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin. His son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, assumed leadership as the 53rd Dai, a move contested by Khuzaima Qutbuddin, the deceased Syedna’s half-brother. Unable to resolve the matter internally, the dispute was brought before the High Court in 2014. Justice Patel’s 2024 verdict upheld Mufaddal Saifuddin’s leadership, a decision currently under appeal.
