Chennai: Expressing solidarity with advocates protesting against recommending a list of names for elevation as additional judges in High Court by the collegium, various advocates forums have taken up the issue and sent representations to President, Supreme Court, Central Government and Tamil Nadu Governor.
The Tamil Nadu Advocate’s Association (TNAA), has sent a memorandum to Collegium of judges, Supreme Court.
President of TNAA, S. Prabakaran, said that TNAA has requested the apex court collegium to return the list of names suggested for appointment of judge of High Court. Many advocates, who figured in the list had not attended court regularly.
“TNAA has requested the Supreme Court collegium to direct the High Court to redo the whole process by including meritorious and competent lawyers from unrepresented communities in strict compliance of Constitutional mandate of Social Justice as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution in letter and spirit,” he added.
Lawyers For Democracy and Social Causes have also sent representations to the President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court and the Union Minister for Law and Justice seeking rejection of all the 12 names mentioned in the list.
President C. Vijayakumar and secretary S. Sathia Chandran of the association said the present list smelt of nepotism.
A total of 102 practising advocates signed the representation, which sought the appointment of judges on the basis of merit, integrity, ability and morality with according due representation to all sections/communities of lawyers.
Meanwhile, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) said levelling sexist remarks against women in race for top jobs too would amount to harassment of women at work place.
The association appealed to lawyers associations, trade unions and women’s organisations to raise their voice against attempts to denigrate women candidates’ character in order to deny them top positions.
