New Delhi: Just as lawyer Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri was being sworn in as a judge of the Madras High Court today, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions against her elevation as a judge.
The oath ceremony started while the Supreme Court hearing was still underway.
“We are not entertaining the writ petitions. Reasons will follow,” a special bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai said.
Ms. Gowri’s elevation had mired into a controversy ever since 21 lawyers including N.G.R. Prasad, Senior Counsel R Vaigai, V. Suresh and others wrote to President Draupadi Murmu on February 1 urging her to return the Supreme Court collegium’s January 17 recommendation to elevate her as judge of the High Court.
They also requested the collegium to reconsider its recommendation and followed it up with two cases filed in the Supreme Court on Monday against the proposed elevation. On being mentioned, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud agreed to list the cases for hearing before the appropriate Bench on Tuesday.
However, in the meantime, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijju tweeted that the Centre had cleared the appointment of 13 additional judges to three different High Courts and the list included the name of Ms. Gowri. The Ministry also notified the Presidential warrant.
Thereafter, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi authorised the ACJ to administer the oath of office to the five individuals appointed as judges of Madras High Court and accordingly, the oath taking ceremony took place on Tuesday in the presence judges, Bar leaders and other lawyers.
