05-07-2025
Justice Anil Kilor to head Nagpur bench as administrative judge
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Nagpur: Justice Anil Satyavijay Kilor, who rose from the Nagpur Bar to the Bombay high court bench in 2019, is set to become the new administrative judge of the Nagpur bench.
This follows the expected shift of incumbent Justice Nitin Sambre to the Delhi high court collegium shortly.
The announcement was made by none other than Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai during last week's felicitation event hosted by the District Bar Association.
"There's no need to worry about the future of PILs. Justice Anil Kilor will be looking after it efficiently," CJI Gavai said, reaffirming the Nagpur bench's long-standing legacy in public-interest litigation. He also praised Kilor's instrumental role in civic activism and judicial reform during his pre-elevation years.
A native of Walgaon in Amravati district, Justice Kilor graduated in commerce from DNC College and earned his law degree from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law, Nagpur.
Starting his career in 1992 under senior counsel Sanjay Jagtap, he soon emerged as one of Vidarbha's leading legal voices.
Appointed assistant govt pleader in 2000, he served on several state panels and represented institutions like LIC, Nagpur University, and municipal corporations.
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A strong believer in accessible justice and clean governance, Kilor led more than 30 impactful public interest litigations — many filed through the NGO Janmanch, of which he was a founding member.
His PILs included the Rs70,000 crore Vidarbha irrigation scam exposing alleged cost inflation in dam projects like Gosikhurd; the setting up of Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) in Nagpur; securing additional GMCHs in Chandrapur and Gondia; and pushing for expanded medical seats across state-run colleges in Vidarbha.
As President of the High Court Bar Association (2017–19), Kilor secured land for its expansion, initiated welfare reforms, and oversaw the renovation of the High Court interiors and Bar rooms. His strategic interventions as counsel also helped Nagpur University reclaim 70 acres of land lost to encroachment on Amravati Road.
Elevated as an Additional Judge on August 23, 2019, and made permanent on June 1, 2021, Justice Kilor is known for nuanced rulings, including a key verdict affirming that writ jurisdiction is maintainable even in the presence of alternate remedies.
In another widely cited ruling, he granted Rs8.22 lakh compensation to a deceased homemaker's family, remarking that 'a woman has the most important role in a family, but is least appreciated.
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Legal observers and HCBA members say Kilor's administrative leadership will reinforce the Nagpur bench's reputation as a pillar of judicial activism. With his blend of litigation experience, reformist zeal, and institutional insight, Justice Kilor is expected to strengthen the court's credibility and responsiveness in the public eye.
