Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 7: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea challenging the appointment of lawyer L Victoria Gowri as a second judge on the Madras High Court.
The petition’s issue, according to a panel of justices led by Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai, is not one of Gowri’s eligibility but rather of her suitability, which the court would not be allowed to investigate.
There is a difference between eligibility and suitability. Regarding suitability court cannot go into it since the process will become unworkable. We can work only around eligibility,” said Justice Khanna.
The Collegium would have taken into account all evidence against Gowri, according to the Court, and the highest court would not at this late date interfere with the Collegium’s judgement.
We are not entertaining the writ petition. Reasons will follow,” the Court ordered.
As a result of allegations that Gowri showed ‘strong bias’ towards residents because of their religious affiliation, Madras High Court attorneys asked the Supreme Court to reject Gowri’s appointment.
Supreme Court refuses to entertain a plea against the appointment of advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri as an additional judge of the Madras High Court. pic.twitter.com/naD1WUum7G
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2023
Senior attorney Raju Ramachandran, who is representing the petitioners, stated that the High Court justices’ eligibility requirements, which are outlined in Article 217 of the Constitution, are implicit by virtue of the position’s high constitutional status.
He said that Gowri had rendered herself ineligible for the position by her public utterances.
“There is letter and spirit of every word in the constitution. She had rendered herself incapable of taking oath due to her utterances,” Ramachandran submitted.
The Court, however, said that the Collegium must have analysed the material.
The hearing took place on the day when Gowri was supposed to take his oath of office as a new judge. She and four other people were appointed on Tuesday. Advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri takes oath as an additional judge of the Madras High Court.
Tamil Nadu | Advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri takes oath as an additional judge of the Madras High Court.
Hearing in the plea against her appointment is ongoing in the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/pNvN3tePyt
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2023
Her appointment was announced by the Union government on Monday as a result of a recommendation by the highest court collegium.
