Israel and western world
The change in stand by Canada, France and the U.K. in the context of the belligerent and brutal campaign on Gaza by Israel, is also a part of a churning in the current global disorder, marked by a complete disregard for the UN Charter by nations with economic and military clout.
It is a pity that over the last few years, we have been witnessing “expedient silences” and also an abstaining from voting opportunistically at international forums being portrayed as brilliant tactics even in matters where flagrant breaches are evident. Value-neutrality among diplomats is threatening to spell the end of diplomacy as the most effective method of dispute resolution
Angara Venkata Girija Kumar,
Chennai
Judiciary, appointments
I write this letter as Senior Advocate, and President, Tamil Nadu Advocates Association (TNAA). While it may be true that the data analysis in the ‘Datapoint’, “Madras HC judge picks: 88% not from general category” (Opinion page, May 19, 2025), pertains only to the appointments made in the last couple of years during the tenures of two former Chief Justices of India, and “ is based on the latest data recently released separately by the Supreme Court”, the analysis projects an incorrect picture.
The fair representation of all communities in the higher judiciary is a topic of concern to the legal fraternity. A well-known case, The Registrar General of Madras High Court vs R. Gandhi (AIRONLINE 2014 SC 170), has dealt with the issue and the Supreme Court made a specific observation that all unrepresented communities and underrepresented communities from all sections of society be given fair representation in elevation as judges of the courts.
It would be appropriate to mention the questions in Parliament with regard to social diversity in higher judiciary; unstarred question number 3117, on representation of judges from the weaker sections in the Supreme Court and High Courts is one example.
In this unstarred question, four issues were raised regarding the percentage of each community’s representation in the Supreme Court and High Courts. The data sought was for 2014 onwards, but the Union Ministry of Law and Justice used data from 2018.
Based on the information provided, it was seen that out of 684 High Court judges appointed since 2018, 21 belong to the SC category, 14 to the ST category, and 82 to the OBC category, with 32 from minorities.
The data provided was once again re-iterated with a few additions to another unstarred question raised and answered on March 20, 2025. It was mentioned that out of 715 High Court judges appointed since 2018, only 22 are from the SC category, 16 from the ST category, 89 from OBCs and 37 from the minorities.
The fact is that from 2018 to 2022, 80% of judges were appointed from the upper caste, or the general category. Now, nearly 78% of the judges are upper castes.
S. Prabakaran,
Chennai
Published – May 23, 2025 12:24 am IST