The Law Ministry on Thursday said there was no proposal to introduce reservation for women in the appointment of judges in the higher judiciary. The Ministry’s response came on an observation of a Parliamentary Standing Committee that only six women judges have been appointed in the Supreme Court till date.
In the report tabled in Parliament, the Committee recommended that the Ministry should make suitable measures to include more women judges in both higher and subordinate judiciary.
The Committee reiterated its recommendation in its ‘Eighty-fourth Report on Demand for Grants’ that the strength of women judges should be around 50% of the total strength of judges.
The Ministry said judges were appointed in the Supreme Court and High Courts as per Articles 125 and 217 of the Constitution, which did not provide for reservation for any caste, class or gender.
“The government has, however, been requesting the Chief Justices of the High Courts that while sending proposals for the appointment of judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and women,” the Ministry said. While such requests have been made to ensure a fair representation for different sections of society in the higher judiciary, the Ministry said: “There is no proposal for amendment to Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution”.
COMMents
SHARE