Chennai: In his crusade for social justice, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin has demanded that the appointments to the higher judiciary should reflect inclusiveness with wider representation.
Placing this demand before Chief Justice of India NV Ramana at an event in Chennai, he said “in the appointment of Judges to the High Courts and Supreme Court, the Hon'ble Collegium may kindly ensure that the principle of Social Justice along with other parameters for an appointment is followed. In this way, I consider that the principle of inclusiveness would be ensured in higher judiciary.” The occasion was laying the foundation stone for the multi-story building to house the first-ever court for commercial cases among other things, in the High Court complex.
Social justice continues to be a core ideological pillar of the ruling DMK and the party has been consistently pushing for wider representation in the higher judiciary so that it is not an exclusive preserve of the privileged. The party prides on carrying forward the legacy of social justice since the days of its mentor, the Justice Party. This plea was followed by two other demands viz., making Tamil the official language of Madras High Court and a Supreme Court Bench in Chennai.
Stating that Tamil Nadu occupies an important place in peninsular India and to meet the needs of the people of the Southern States, Stalin urged the CJI to consider the long-pending request to constitute a Bench of the Supreme Court in Chennai. In his view, this would facilitate the people of the region in accessing justice.
Another long-pending demand, Stalin said, was allowing Tamil to be used in the High Court of Madras. Already four states viz., Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, are using the official language in their respective High Courts, he pointed out and said this is an important request of the people and the legal fraternity in Tamil Nadu.
Responding to the demand for using Tamil in the High Court, CJI Ramana did not disappoint Stalin. “Language and Procedures followed in courts should not be like chanting mantras in weddings which no one understands. Common people should be made an active part of the judicial system. With innovation and technology we may solve the problem in near future,” he said in his address. On inclusiveness in appointments to the higher judiciary, he said, “We are awaiting the day when gender or any other hurdle would not be a barrier.”
On establishing regional benches of the Supreme Court, “the CJI said “I am not aware whether the government is considering it (private member bill moved in parliament by DMK MP, P Wilson). But we will continue online hearing during miscellaneous days and on other days to ensure accessibility of SC to all across the country.”
