The TN Bar Council Today (5th April), urged the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court to recommend more lawyers from minority communities and women for judicial appointments. They emphasized the need for diversity on the bench and called for equal opportunities for lawyers from all sections of society. The Bar Council stressed that the selection process should not favor isolated groups but consider candidates based on merit and inclusivity. This move aims to ensure fair representation and uphold the principles of justice in the judiciary.
Tamil Nadu: The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on friday sent a letter to Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala of the Madras High Court, urging him to propose a more diverse list of candidates for judicial elevation. The council emphasized the need for increased representation of women lawyers and lawyers from minority communities in judicial appointments.
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Senior Counsel S Prabakaran, who serves as the Vice President of the Bar Council of India, authored the letter. He advocated for a selection process that considers candidates from all segments of the legal profession rather than favoring specific groups. The letter stressed the importance of providing equal opportunities for all lawyers, regardless of their social or economic backgrounds, to ascend to the judiciary.
Prabakaran stated,
“Currently, the High Court of Madras has a complement of 66 judges, whereas its authorized strength is 75 judges, with 12 of them being women. With several judges, including the Chief Justice, set to retire this year, there is an imminent need to fill these vacancies. However, the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has emphasized the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for all lawyers to be elevated fairly. The focus is on avoiding recommendations limited to specific groups of lawyers, as diversity among candidates holds significant importance,”
The letter sent to CJ Gangapurwala on April 5 also emphasized that to expedite case resolution and guarantee justice for all parties involved, lawyers exhibiting a high level of integrity should be nominated for elevation to the Bench.
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The letter stated on behalf of the legal fraternity,
“While recommending names for consideration before the Hon’ble collegium of the Supreme Court of India for appointment as judges of this Hon’ble Court, Your Lordship is respectfully requested to ensure equal opportunity for all eligible and suitable aspirants, including advocates from all sections of society with well-trained legal minds. The judiciary should reflect and fulfill the aspirations of the people, and judicial appointments to the High Court should mirror the social diversity of our country. Hence, the names of candidates hailing from all sections of society, including women, may be considered.”
Read the Letter: