DMK MP’s Private Bill Seeks Reservation in Judicial Appointments
CHENNAI: Designated senior advocate and DMK’s Rajya Sabha Member P Wilson has introduced a private member’s Bill in Parliament aimed at overhauling the judicial appointment system in India. The Bill seeks to ensure proportional representation of OBCs, SCs, and STs based on their population, along with a significant increase in the number of women candidates for judgeships in the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
Key Objectives of the Bill
The proposed legislation emphasizes the importance of incorporating the views of respective state governments when appointing judges to High Courts and elevating chief justices to the Supreme Court. It aims to amend Articles 124, 217, and 224 of the Constitution to achieve these objectives.
Furthermore, the Bill intends to provide a constitutional framework for the collegium system and mandates a timeframe for the Union government to notify collegium recommendations. Wilson stated, “Since judges effectively decide the validity of laws made by the legislature and policies made by the executive, it is imperative that the bench reflects the social diversity of the state and the country.”
A Call for Diversity in the Judiciary
For the last 75 years, the higher judiciary has not seen any reservations, making it a unique institution in this regard. Wilson highlighted the need for the bench to mirror the nation’s diversity, stating, “The current composition of the higher judiciary does not adequately reflect this diversity.”
As India is a nation rich in cultures, communities, and religions, the Bill aims to bridge the diversity deficit in judicial appointments, addressing the inequalities present in the current system.
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