New Delhi, Feb 6(UNI) In an unusual turn of events in the appointment of senior lawyer Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri as a judge of the Madras High Court, the Supreme Court on Monday preponed the hearing to Tuesday, (earlier of Friday) and said that the Collegium has taken cognisance of certain material relating to her.
The Apex Court today admitted after 2 pm that certain material relating to Gowri, who was recommended by the Collegium for appointment as Madras High Court judge, came to the Court's notice only after the recommendation of the Supreme Court's Collegium was made.
The Apex Court, also took cognisance of it, even after today, it heard a mentioning matter at 12pm by a group of Chennai lawyers against the Collegium's recommendation to appoint advocate Victoria Gowri as a judge in the Madras HC.
The Supreme Court, therefore, said, it will prepone the hearing to tomorrow itself keeping in view the urgency of the case.
"We have seen the plea and we have read it. There are certain developments which have taken place. The Supreme Court's Collegium has taken cognisance of what came to our notice and it was after our recommendation," the CJI said.
"I will constitute a bench and this matter will be placed before that bench tomorrow morning. List it before appropriate bench on February 7, 2023," the Court said.
Gowri, a senior lawyer at the Madras High Court, was recently on January 17, recommended to be appointed as a Judge of the Madras High Court, by the Supreme Court Collegium.
This kicked off discussion in legal circles and on social media about Gowri's credentials and her alleged affiliation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vis-a-vis her elevation as a judge to the Madras High Court.
Raju Ramachandranaenior lawyer appearing for the group of Chennai lawyers, said that this matter is important and cited her (Gowri's) alleged statements against the minorities in the past.
"This is an urgent petition by senior lawyers of Madras concerning the impending appointment. They are praying for interim relief. I would request you to take it at the earliest", the senior lawyer, Raju, mentioned before the Supreme Court bench, led by the CJI.
The CJI initially said 'next Monday'. But after Ramachandran pleaded and made a fervent request for an earlier day, to this, the CJI said agreed to list it for Friday.
Before this mentioning at the Supreme Court, Law and Justice Minister, Kiren Rijiju tweeted that Centre had approved her (L C Victoria Gowri) name as a judge of the Madras High Court.
The Union Law and Justice Minister, Kiren Rijiju tweeted that the Centre has appointed 13 judges to High Courts, including Victoria Gowri.
She became controversial, after reports about her affiliation to BJP and also certain statements made about Muslims and Christians surfaced in the public domain. A section of the Madras High Court bar has sent a representation to the CJI urging the collegium to recall its proposal.
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