Hon’ble Judges appointed from the State of Goa

Date of Birth: 16th March, 1928, Place of Birth: Margao – Salcete – Goa, Education: Degree of Licenciate in Law by the Faculty of Law of the Classical University of Lisben – Portugal Bar-at-Law.

Before Liberation:- Joined the Portuguese Overseas Judiciary on 12th August,1954 as a Magistrate with the duties of Government Advocate cum Public Prosecutor (Delegade de Procurador da Republica) and served in that capacity at Angola in the Judicial Divisions (Comarcas) of Novo Redondo and Luanda. Comarca Judge (Juiz de Direito) from 5.2.1959, having served at the Divisions of Congo (Angola) and Quepem (Goa). Additional Advocate General of Goa (Ajudante do Procurador da Republica) and Acting Advocate General of Goa (Procurador da Republica) from 16.12.1960.

After Liberation:- Comarca Judge (Juiz de Direito) and Civil Judge, Sr. Division and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Bardez (Mapusa), Panaji, Margao and Bicholim. Additional District and Sessions Judge in 1977 District and Sessions Judge of Goa, Daman and Diu in 1980. Judicial Commissioner of Goa, Daman and Diu in 1981 Judge, Bombay High Court in 1982, Retired on 15.3.1990

Other posts held: 1)Member of the Advisory Board, N.S.A., 2)Member of the Motor Vehicles Tribunal, 3)Member of the Executive Council of the Goa University, 4)Chairman of the Goa, Daman and Diu state Transport Authority, 5)Chairman of the Selection Committee for the post of Chairman of the Goa State Electricity Regulatory Commission, 6)Chairman of the Goa public Men`s Corruption (Investigations and Inquiries) Commission.

Shri Gurudas Datta Kamat, who is appointed as a Judge of the Bombay High Court at the Goa Bench of the High Court, was born on 5th January, 1935. He graduated in Arts in the year 1957 with History as the principal subject and obtained his degree in Law in the year 1960. He was enrolled as an Advocate on 10th August, 1962. For a brief period he practiced at Bombay and later on shifted to Goa where he had been practising since 1964. He acted as a Special Public Prosecutor for the Goa Government from the year 1967 to 1969. Since 1980 he had been advocate for Customs and Central Excise Departments of Government of India. Appointed as Judge of High Court of Judicature at Bombay on 29th November, 1983 and further appointed as Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court w.e.f 1-07-1996. Retired on 04-01-1997. He is actively involved in social and cultural activities in Goa and was associated with the People’s Educational Trust which runs educational institutions in Goa. He was a Member of the Senate of the Bombay University for two years from 1980 to 1982 and was also a Member of the Faculty of Law of the Senate. Appointed as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court with effect from 1.7.1996.

Born on 10.5.1933 at Margao, Goa. Degree in Law and Post Graduation in Historical and Juridical Sciences by the Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Diploma in Forensic Medicine by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Diploma in Dactiloscopy and Prisional Law by the Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Course of Criminology in the Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, in 1979. First appointed Judge as 'Julgado Municipal Especial' of Ponda on 6.12.1957. Promoted as Civil Judge, Senior Division and Judicial Magistrate First Class on 20.4.1964. Appointed as Chief Judicial Magistrate, Goa, Daman and Diu, on 18.4.1974. Appointed as Additional Sessions Judge, Goa, Daman and Diu, on 11.10.1974. Appointed as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Goa, Daman and Diu, on 14.1.1980. Appointed as District and Sessions Judge, South Goa, Margao, on 4.2.1981. Transferred as District and Sessions Judge, North Goa, Panaji on 2.12.1988. Elevated to the Bench of the Bombay High Court as Additional Judge on 30.7.1990 and posted as Permanent Judge at the Panaji Bench of the same High Court. Appointed as Puisne Judge of the Bombay High Court on 25.9.1991. Retired from the Bench of the Bombay High Court on 09.5.1995, after more than 38 years of judicial service. Appointed as Authority nominated under section 9(3) of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), on 6.6.1975. Chairman of the State Transport Authority of Goa, Daman and Diu. Presiding Officer, Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Margao, from 10.7.1975 till 1.12.1988. Presiding Officer, Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Panaji, from 2.12.1988 till 29.7.1990. Special Judge, Goa, Daman and Diu, under The Prevention of Corruption Act, from 20.11.1981 till 29.7.1990. Member of the University Court of the Goa University as a Nominee of the Governor of Goa. Member of the Standing Advisory Committee on Students Affairs of the University of Goa from 21.9.1998. Chairman of the Permanent Lok Adalat, South Goa District, under the Goa State Legal Services Authority. President of the Goa State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (State Commission), from 25.5.1999 till 9.5.2000. Appointed as One Man Commission of Inquiry to probe the irregularities committed by Mr. B.S. Subbanna, Mr. G.G. Kambli and Mr. P.V. Kadnekar, while functioning as Custodians of Evacuee Property on 9.5.2000. Member of the Indian Society of Human Rights, Nagpur. Invited to attend the VII Congress of the International Association of Judges at Macau in October 1989. Invited to attend as Guest Lecturer at the International Seminar of Law organized by the University of Sao Francisco, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and addressed on the topic of 'Indian Law and the juridical traditions of the Legal System prevailing in the former Portuguese possessions of Goa, Daman and Diu' in October 1997.

Justice Ranjeet Kumar Batta, B.A.(Hons.), LL.M. : Was born on September 3, 1941. He was enrolled as Advocate on September 15, 1966. He practised for three years in District Court and Subordinate Courts in Delhi in Civil and Criminal matters. He was appointed as Civil Judge in Goa on August 25, 1969. He was promoted as Additional Sessions Judge on April 20, 1982 and as District Judge on July 24, 1986. He became District and Sessions Judge on August 17, 1990. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on December 5, 1995 and permanent Judge on January 7, 1997. Retired on September 2, 2003.

Justice R.M.S. Khandeparkar, B.A., LL.B. : Born on 15-08-1946. Enrolled as an advocate on 30th July 1973. Was Member of the Goa High Court Bar Association since its inception and subsequently General Secretary of the Managing Committee of the said Association. Was also a Member of All Goa Advocate Association and of the North Goa Advocate Association. Was Central Government Standing Counsel in Goa since December 1990 and Sp. Public Prosecutor for Central Excise, Customs, FERA etc., in Goa since 1984. Was also Advocate of Goa University since its establishment in 1985 as well as Advocate for Goa Housing Board from 1992 till he was elevated to the Bench. Appointed Judge of the Bombay High Court on 15th April 1996. Retired on 14.08.2008

Born on 31-07-1949. Passed LL.B. from Government Law College. Enrolled as an Advocate on 30-07-1973. Practised in the Judicial Commissioner's Court, Panaji from 1973 to 1982 and then at the Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court from 1982, in Service, Consitutional, Local Self Government matters. Worked as a part-time lecturer in Law at Salgoncar Law College from 1975 to 1977. Was President of the Goa High Court Bar Association from 1994 to 1996. Designated as Senior Advocate in December 1995. Appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court for a period of 2 years w.e.f. 15-04-1996. Permanent Judge from April,1998. Appointed as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court with effect from 26.06.2010. Retired on 30.07.2011.

Justice N.A. Britto , B.A., LL.B. : Born on 8th January, 1949. He passed B.A. (with Economics and Political Science) from Chowgule College, Margao, in 1969. He stood 1st in Constitutional Law in 1st Year LL.B. in Poona University in 1970 and bagged Dr. Abhyankar Constitutional Law Prize. In 3rd Year LL.B. he stood 1st in Criminology in Bombay University in 1972. He joined Bar on 14-7-1972. He stood 1st in the written and oral examinations held by Government for the post of A.P.P. He joined as A.P.P. from 3-8-1973 and since then worked as A.P.P., P.P., Government Pleader till joining Judicial Service. From 7-1-1982 he worked as Civil Judge, J. D. & J. M. F. C. and in August , 1986 he was promoted as C.J.S.D. He stood first in oral interviews held for the post of Addl. District Judges in December, 1993 and was appointed as Addl. District and Asst. Sessions Judge on 3-3-1994. He was appointed P resident of Administrative Tribunal from 5-6-1995 to 30-8-1997 and was appointed District and Sessions Judge on 1-9-1997 which post he held till his appointment as Judge of the High Court. Retired on 07.01.2011.

Born on 20th August 1951. He passed B.Sc. in First Class in the year 1972 from Dhempo College, Miramar, Panaji. He took LL.B Degree in the year 1975 from R. L. Law College, Belgaum and stood First Class First and obtained two Gold Medals. He practiced on Civil, Criminal and Constitutional matters in J. C. Court, Panaji and thereafter in the High Court of Bombay at Panaji. He was appointed Public Prosecutor and Government Advocate for about 5 years in the High Court of Bombay at Panaji. Retired on 19.08.2013

Born on 10th August 1955 at Margaon (Goa). Completed his High School education in Loyola High School, Margao. Obtained his Graduation degree in Chemistry & Physics(Hons.) from Smt.Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts & Science, Bombay University in the year 1976. Obtained LL.B. Degree from V.M. Salgaocar College of Law, with highest marks in Drafting and Pleadings from Bombay University in the year 1980. He enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa in the year 1981. Has been practicing since 1981 before all the Courts in the State of Goa since then initially under the guidance of his respected father Bernardo dos Reis, Senior Advocate and also before the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay at Goa, Appellate Tribunal in Environment and appearances before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, mostly in Civil matters as well as Constitutional and Criminal Cases. He specialized in Civil, Succession Law and Arbitration matters. Worked as a part time lecturer at G.R. Kare College of Law at Margao from 1994 to 1996 and was associated with Law Committees constituted by the Government in the State of Goa. Was in the panel of advocates of the Financial Institutions such as Maharashtra State Financial Corporations, Bank of India, Ratnakar Bank Ltd. etc. and Insurance Companies such as Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. before the Hon'ble High Court. Has completed courses in Violin from Trinity College of Music, London and involved in sports such as table tennis, badminton, football and cricket in school and college level and was associated with charitable organizations in the city of Margao. Was appointed as an Additional Judge of Bombay High Court on 26th March 2009. Retired on 09.08.2017

Born on 26th February, 1953 at Sanguem-Goa. Graduated in Bachelor of Science(Hons.) & Bachelor of Laws. Enrolment as an Advocate in 1977 with Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa. Practised as an Advocate from 1978 to 1983 at various Courts at Goa. Appointments Held: 27/07/1983 to 29/03/1988 - As Assistant Public Prosecutor, State Of Goa. 30/03/1988 to 14/02/1995 - As Civil Judge, Junior Division and J.M.F.C. 15/02/1995 to 20/01/1998 - As Civil Judge, Senior Division and J.M.F.C. 21/01/1998 to 24/11/2005 - As Additional District & Session Judge. 01/07/2004 - Conferred Selection Grade. 25/11/2005 to 08/04/2007 - As Law Secretary to the State of Goa. 09/04/2007 to 16/03/2011 - As Principal District & Sessions Judge. 17/03/2011 - Elevated as Judge of the High Court of Bombay. Retired on 25/02/2015

Born on 28th November, 1964. Completed school education from Don Bosco High School, Panaji, Goa; B Sc. from Dhempe College of Arts & Science, LL.B. from M. S. College of Law, Panaji, Goa (affiliated to Bombay University) in First Class. Portuguese Language Diploma awarded by Xavier Centre of Historical Research. Enrolled as an Advocate on the rolls of Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa in October 1988 and practiced at Panaji Bench of the High Court of Judicature, Bombay in civil & constitutional law, labour & service law, environmental law, commercial & tax laws, company law and public interest litigations. Additional Standing Counsel for Central Government, Special Counsel for State Government and Statutory Corporations. Elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay on 21st June 2013. His Lordship was appointed as the Chief Justice of High Court of Jharkhand Vide Notification dated 02.01.2026 and took oath on 09.01.2026.

Ms. Nutan D. Sardessai born on 19th August, 1958 at Ponda – Goa and is a B.Sc. (Hons.) and L.L.M. Postgraduate from the University of Poona. She has taken to the legal profession and started her legal practice in 1983. She joined the Goa Judiciary on 18/10/1991 as a Civil Judge, Junior Division & J.M.F.C. at Bicholim and was then transferred in the same post at Panaji and thereafter at Quepem i.e. as the Civil Judge, Junior Division and J.M.F.C. She had attended the Training for Judicial Officers at JOTI Nagpur for 10 weeks w.e.f. 10.6.1994 to 20.8.1994. She was promoted as the Senior Civil Judge in December, 1996, and was promoted to the post of the Additional District & Sessions Judge w.e.f. 23/01/1998. She worked as a Special Judge, N.D.P.S. Court for Goa at Mapusa from 11/06/2001 to 15/05/2006. She had attended a 2 days Seminar on Gender and Law organized by the British Council in coordination with Goa State Legal Services Authority at Panaji in December 2001 and an Induction Training in Arbitration, Conciliation and Mediation in 2002. She was the only Judge from Goa Judiciary deputed to the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal for the inaugural programme between 5th September 2002 to 9th September 2002 and for the advanced course on Gender and Law. She thereafter attended the Training Module for Additional District Judges again at JOTI, Nagpur from 31.3.2003 to 3.5.2003. She had thereafter on 2 successive occasions attended programmes on Environmental Law and Criminal Justice System, Penology and Victimology in 2004 and 2006 at the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal. She was transferred as then Additional District & Sessions Judge to Margao, South Goa. She was designated as the Principal District & Sessions Judge, South Goa at Margao w.e.f. 07/04/2007 as also the Special Judge for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and under the Prevention of Atrocities (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act. She has also attended a one day Seminar on Right to Education for children at Delhi under the auspices of NALSA at Delhi in May 2009. She was transferred to the same post at Panaji w.e.f. 11/08/2009. She was transferred back to the District Court, Margao since 04/06/2012 to 27/03/2016. Elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on 28.03.2016.Retired on 18/08/2020

Born on 29th July, 1967 in the village of Goa Velha in Taluka Tiswadi, Goa. Completed School Education from Sharada Mandir High School, Miramar, Panjim, Goa; B.A. (Hons.) in English Literature from Dhempe College of Arts & Science, and LL.B. Degree from M. S. College of Law, Miramar, Panjim, Goa. Enrolled as an Advocate on the Roll of Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa on 25th August, 1992 and joined the Chamber of Senior Advocate Shri Manohar S. Usgaoncar, Former Additional Solicitor General of India and Former Advocate General of the State of Goa. Practised at the High Court of Bombay at Goa in Civil and Constitutional Law, Labour and Service Law, Environmental Law, Commercial, Tax and Company Laws, Public Interest Litigations and law relating to Portuguese Civil Code. Also practised before the District and Sessions Courts of North and South Goa Districts, Industrial Tribunal and Administrative Tribunal at Goa. Former President and Secretary of the Goa High Court Bar Association. Takes keen interest in Sports and Outdoor activities, specially in Football, Swimming and Martial Arts. An avid reader of History, Natural Science and Social and Cultural Anthropology. Elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay on 19th July, 2022.