The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the petitions
challenging Advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri's appointment as the
additional judge for Madras High Court.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai
said that it could not presume that the Collegium was unaware of Gowri's
political backgrounds or the articles that later surfaced in the public domain,
reports LiveLaw.
The bench also added that she is only being appointed
as an Additional Judge, and there are instances where persons have not been
confirmed.
Supreme Court of India on Monday made a significant
disclosure that the Collegium has taken cognisance of the complaints against
Victoria Gowri, who has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Madras
High Court.
Gowri took the oath, along with four others, earlier
on Tuesday.
On January 17, the Supreme Court Collegium
recommended the elevation of Advocate Gowri as an additional judge of the Madras
High Court. However, a section of the Madras High Court lawyers opposed her
proposed elevation and members of the Madras High Court bar last week sent a
representation to the Chief Justice of India. It sought a recall of the
recommendation made for the elevation of Victoria Gowri on the ground that she
has made hate speech against Christians and Muslims and her open affiliations
with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reported LiveLaw.
The matter was scheduled to be heard on February 10 in
Victoria Gowri's appointment. However, the apex court advanced its hearing in
the matter after a mention by Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran second time
after the bench assembled in the post-lunch session on Monday.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said
that there are some developments that have taken place. The Collegium has taken
cognisance of what came to our attention after we made the recommendation.
A group of 21 lawyers of the High Court wrote to
President Droupadi Murmu and the SC Collegium asking to drop her name from the
list.
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