"Brahmin hegemony happening, diversity and social justice are not followed": Former judges against judge appointments

CHENNAI: Former judges said that social representation is not reflected in the appointments of judges in the courts. Former Madras High Court judges K Chandru and D Hariparanthaman made this clear in a joint press conference.

"There is Brahmin hegemony in appointments. Appointments in the Supreme Court and high courts are not done according to procedures. Diversity and social justice are not followed. 79 percent of the judges appointed in the last five years are from the upper castes, which constitute only 10 percent of the population. 34 percent of the Supreme Court judges are Brahmins. Only two percent are judges from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minority communities. Women from these communities and women are not represented. This is an obstacle to social justice," Justice Chandru said.

"74 percent of the judges in the lower courts of Kerala are women. In Tamil Nadu, it is 64 percent. Women do not get due consideration in the High Courts and Supreme Courts. When D.Y. Chandrachud was the Chief Justice, not a single woman was appointed as a Supreme Court judge. There is nepotism in the appointment of the collegium. The procedures are confidential. It is kept away from the public," Hariparanthaman alleged. He also said that when even those recommended by the collegium are rejected, the final decision becomes the responsibility of the central government.