SC Collegium Proposed Names Of 39 Women For Appointment As High Court Judges Since Last Year, 27 Recommendations Approved So Far: Law Ministry

The said information was provided by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju in response to the following questions raised by MP V.K. Sreekandan on women representation on benches:

"(a) whether the Supreme Court Collegium has sought representation of more women judges, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the demand for higher representation beyond 50 percent on the Bench in view of low representation of women is under consideration, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether only 17 of the 37 women recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium were appointed as judges in High Courts; and (d) if so, the reason therefor?"

The Law Minister responded that appointment of Judges under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution does not provide reservation for any caste or class of persons. He informed that in the present system of appointment of Judges to the constitutional courts through the Collegium system, the onus to provide social diversity and representation to all sections of the society including SC/ST/OBC/Women/Minorities primarily falls on the Judiciary. Government cannot appoint any person as a High Court Judge who is not recommended by the High Court Collegium/Supreme Court Collegium, he added.

Also Read: Women Should Demand 50% Reservation In The Judiciary, Not As Charity But As A Matter Of Right: CJI Ramana

In addition to this, the Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also stated,

"However, the Government remains committed to social diversity in the appointment of Judges in the Higher Judiciary and has been requesting the Chief Justices of High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment of Judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women to ensure social diversity in appointment of Judges in High Courts."

Click Here To Read/Download Unstarred Question And Answer