<p>A Bombay High Court additional judge, who had delivered two controversial verdicts in sexual assault cases, was on Friday given a fresh one-year term as an additional judge, instead of two years as recommended by the Supreme Court collegium.</p>.<p>Justice Pushpa Ganediwala's fresh tenure would be effective from February 13. Her earlier tenure as an additional judge was to end on Friday.</p>.<p>Last month, the Supreme Court collegium had withdrawn its approval to a proposal for the appointment of additional judge, Justice Ganediwala as a permanent judge of the court following her two controversial verdicts.</p>.<p>The collegium had recommended that she be given a fresh term as an additional judge for two years.</p>.<p>But the government issued a notification on Friday saying she has been given a fresh term as an additional judge for one year.</p>.<p>Instead of asking the collegium to reconsider its recommendation of a fresh two year term, the government decided to extend the period by only one year, sources pointed out.</p>.<p>Additional judges are usually appointed for two years before being elevated as permanent judges.</p>.<p>The decision was taken after the judge faced flak for her interpretation of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.</p>.<p>Justice Ganediwala recently acquitted a man accused of groping a 12-year-old girl's breast because he did not make skin-to-skin contact and days earlier, ruled that holding the hands of a five-year-old girl and unzipping the trousers do not amount to "sexual assault" under the POCSO Act.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/skin-to-skin-contact-verdict-sc-sends-notice-to-bombay-hc-949651.html" target="_blank">Skin-to-skin contact verdict: SC sends notice to Bombay HC</a></strong></p>.<p>On January 27, the Supreme Court stayed the Bombay High Court order acquitting the man after Attorney General K K Venugopal said the order would set a dangerous precedent.</p>.<p>The collegium headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, at a meeting held on January 20, had okayed the proposal for making Justice Ganediwala a permanent judge.</p>.<p>Besides the CJI, justices N V Ramana and R F Nariman are part of the three-member collegium, which takes decisions with regard to high court judges. </p>
<p>A Bombay High Court additional judge, who had delivered two controversial verdicts in sexual assault cases, was on Friday given a fresh one-year term as an additional judge, instead of two years as recommended by the Supreme Court collegium.</p>.<p>Justice Pushpa Ganediwala's fresh tenure would be effective from February 13. Her earlier tenure as an additional judge was to end on Friday.</p>.<p>Last month, the Supreme Court collegium had withdrawn its approval to a proposal for the appointment of additional judge, Justice Ganediwala as a permanent judge of the court following her two controversial verdicts.</p>.<p>The collegium had recommended that she be given a fresh term as an additional judge for two years.</p>.<p>But the government issued a notification on Friday saying she has been given a fresh term as an additional judge for one year.</p>.<p>Instead of asking the collegium to reconsider its recommendation of a fresh two year term, the government decided to extend the period by only one year, sources pointed out.</p>.<p>Additional judges are usually appointed for two years before being elevated as permanent judges.</p>.<p>The decision was taken after the judge faced flak for her interpretation of sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.</p>.<p>Justice Ganediwala recently acquitted a man accused of groping a 12-year-old girl's breast because he did not make skin-to-skin contact and days earlier, ruled that holding the hands of a five-year-old girl and unzipping the trousers do not amount to "sexual assault" under the POCSO Act.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/skin-to-skin-contact-verdict-sc-sends-notice-to-bombay-hc-949651.html" target="_blank">Skin-to-skin contact verdict: SC sends notice to Bombay HC</a></strong></p>.<p>On January 27, the Supreme Court stayed the Bombay High Court order acquitting the man after Attorney General K K Venugopal said the order would set a dangerous precedent.</p>.<p>The collegium headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, at a meeting held on January 20, had okayed the proposal for making Justice Ganediwala a permanent judge.</p>.<p>Besides the CJI, justices N V Ramana and R F Nariman are part of the three-member collegium, which takes decisions with regard to high court judges. </p>