Supreme Court Declines To Entertain Early Hearing Request In Plea Regarding Gender Imbalance In Judge Advocate General's Recruitment

Without passing any order, the Supreme Court on Thursday (March 21) refused to entertain an early hearing request in the plea regarding gender imbalance in Judge Advocate General's (JAG) recruitment.

The matter was before a Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra on a listed mentioning as the next recruitment drive is to take place in April.

During the hearing, counsels for the parties made a joint request for the matter, which is coming up on April 10, to be heard early. However, Justice Roy, reminding that similar prayers had not been entertained on previous occasions, refused to pass an order.

When it was pled by one of the counsels that the matter may become infructuous, Justice Roy said, "we are not in a position...we have benches which are set up back to back".

To recap, the petitioner filed the present petition against a notification dated 18.01.2023 for the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Entry Scheme 31st Course, inviting applications from Law Graduates (Men and Women). It was pointed out that while six of the vacancies were earmarked for men, only three vacancies were earmarked for women.

A detailed report of the issue can be read here.

Courtroom Exchange

UoI's counsel: The next recruitment drive is coming in April

Bench: We have declined such a prayer earlier

Petitioner's counsel: My Lords may consider this to be a joint request

Bench: We have declined joint request earlier

Counsels: My Lords, the matter may not be deleted on that date (April 10)

Bench: We are not saying anything. Is it coming up on 10th?

Counsels: It's a tentative date

Bench: No, it's not ... how many times have you ...

Petitioner's counsel: This is the first time, I am the merit holder candidate

Bench: Everybody is coming for the first time, your face is the first time face here but you ask your colleague we have declined atleast 3 or 4 times

Case Title : Arshnoor Kaur and Another v. Union of India, Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 772/2023

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