‘No need for cold calling…’: CJI Chandrachud defends Justice Gowri's appointment

A video of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is doing rounds on the internet in which he was asked about the appointment of Justice Victoria Gowri. The interaction took place at Harvard Law School on October 21, at that time, a person asked him about the appointment of Justice Gowri, who was accused of making hate speeches against religious minorities.

CJI Chandrachud cleared the air about this and said that people should not be cold-calling individuals for their views which they may have held as lawyers.

In his answer, CJI said, “I am not sure whether we should be cold calling an individual merely for the views, which they may have held as lawyers, because I do believe that there is something in our profession, of judging, that once you assume judicial office, whether it is the peer training, the training which you undergo as judges, your experience as judge.”

Chief Justice also said, “Lawyers don't choose their clients. In fact, it is my firm belief that as a lawyer, you are duty-bound to appear for whoever comes to you in search of legal aid, much as a doctor has to administer medical aid to whoever comes to their clinic. You don't presume the guilt or the lack of guilt of people who come to you”

CJI also said that when a judge is appointed, the process of appointing them is a broad-based collaborative process in which no one arm of the state has a role to play.

For those unaware, Justice Gowri was a BJP functionary and she was appointed as Madras High Court judge in February this year.

Also watch: 'Formed minority view': CJI DY Chandrachud on Same Sex Marriage verdict