Less Than 25% Of HC Judges Belong To SC, ST, OBCs & Minorities; 13.5% Women Judges In Higher Judiciary: Law Ministry Data

The information furnished by the Union Minister of Law & Justice shows that 492 of the 650 High Court judges appointed between 2018 and 2023 belong to the General Category (75.69%). Out of the High Court judges' appointments made during this period, 23 are from the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, 10 from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, 76 from the Other Backward Classes and 36 from religious minorities. The SC, ST, OBC and minority representation is at roughly 3.54 per cent, 1.54 per cent , 11.7 per cent and 5.54 per cent respectively(total about 22.24%). Ministry has said that data about 13 judges are not available.Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal furnished this information in response to queries raised by Rajya Sabha MP Dr.John Brittas, belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist).The Minister also furnished the data regarding women representation in higher judiciary. Out of 824 judges currently working in the Supreme Court and the High Courts (34 in SC and 790 in HC), 111 are women (roughly 13.5 %).Law Ministry said that it has been requesting the Chief Justices of High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment of Judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women to ensure social diversity in appointment of Judges in High Courts. 'The Government remains committed to social diversity in the appointment of Judges in the Higher Judiciary', the response by the Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal stated. The Union Ministry has stated in the response that in the present system of appointment of Judges to the High Courts and Supreme Court through the Collegium system, the onus to provide social diversity and representation to all sections of the society including SC/ST/OBC/Women/Minorities primarily falls on the Judiciary. The revised MoP is under finalization by the Government in consultation with the Collegium in view of Supreme Court judgment in the 2015 NJAC matter on supplementing the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), the Ministry has stated. In 2017, 2021 and 2023, the Union had conveyed the need to make improvements to the MoP and requested the Supreme Court to expedite its finalization for making the system of appointment to the Constitutional Courts 'more transparent, fair, representative and acceptable'. According to the Ministry, in the draft MoP for appointment of judges to the High Court, the Supreme Court has agreed that appointment would be merit based and as far as possible, representation would be given to women and marginalized sections of society. Click here to read the reply

Less Than 25% Of HC Judges Belong To SC, ST, OBCs & Minorities; 13.5% Women Judges In Higher Judiciary: Law Ministry Data

Sheryl Sebastian

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