CJI BR Gavai shared how India’s Constitution turned his life from exclusion to equality. Speaking in Vietnam, he urged the legal community to make diversity and inclusion a living reality, not just an idea.
NEW DELHI: Senior Advocate Indira Jaising told the Supreme Court on Thursday that she does not support the idea of conducting interviews to designate lawyers as Senior Advocates. She clarified that she never made such a suggestion in 2017, yet the Supreme Court included an interview process in its judgment and assigned 25 marks for it.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday (14th Feb) addressed a petition filed by some lawyers from Karnataka, who are seeking reservation for lawyers from marginalized communities in bar bodies. The Court acknowledged that this was an important matter but also made it clear that while diversity in bar bodies is necessary, they do not want these bodies to become divided along caste or religious lines.
Today, On 19th December, The Supreme Court ordered a 30% reservation for women in Delhi bar associations on a trial basis. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan gave this decision after hearing petitions asking for up to 33% women’s quota in these groups. The goal is to improve gender balance in the legal field. The results of this order will be carefully observed.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, during a ceremony honoring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s death anniversary, highlighted Ambedkar’s vision for justice and equality as foundational to the Indian Constitution. He stressed the judiciary’s commitment to uphold these principles, recognizing Ambedkar’s influence on social justice and rights for marginalized communities in India.
On November 9, 2024, a ceremonial bench will honor CJI D.Y. Chandrachud on his final working day, marking his impactful tenure focused on judicial transparency, inclusivity, and technological advancement. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, his successor, is expected to continue these reforms while addressing current judicial challenges. Chandrachud’s legacy will shape future judicial practices.
The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, updated its appointments for Chief Justices of four High Courts due to prior delays from the Central Government. New recommendations now include Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji for Meghalaya, Justice Suresh Kumar Kait for Madhya Pradesh, Justice GS Sandhawalia for Himachal Pradesh, and Justice Tashi Rabstan for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for a secular civil code, denouncing the current communal civil code in India. Highlighting the Supreme Court’s support for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he called for its implementation to eliminate religious discrimination. The UCC aims to establish uniform laws across all religions in areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession, and adoption. Despite support from the ruling party, the timeline for implementation remains uncertain, sparking strong opinions and debates.
The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, recommended the elevation of high court judges N Kotiswar Singh and R Mahadevan to the Supreme Court. The collegium also recommended new Chief Justices for eight high courts to enhance diversity and representation from marginalized communities. This move aims to strengthen the judiciary and ensure diverse representation.