The decision of the Supreme Court Collegium to elevate advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri as a judge at the Madras High Court has come under attack from a section of the High Court Bar.
A group of advocates have written to President Droupadi Murmu and the Supreme Court Collegium, accusing Gowri of spewing hate speech against Muslims and Christians. Critics have also highlighted that Gowri is the National General Secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha.
The lawyers said that such appointments may pave the way for undermining the independence of the judiciary.
"In the context of Ms. Gowri's utterances, can any litigant belonging to Muslim or Christian community ever hope to get justice in her Court, if she becomes a Judge?" the advocates asked in their letter.
"The Collegium's recommendation of a person who harbours such strong antipathy towards the minority community is disturbing, to say the least," the letter added.