Lawyers Against Appointment Of This Woman Judge To Madras HC, Why?

The collegium recommended the elevation of advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri as a judge of the Madras high court, but the group of lawyers in Chennai has a problem with it. They approached Supreme Court (SC) against the Collegium's recommendation. 

After the Collegium's recommendation and even the Centre cleared the appointment of Gowri as an additional judge of the Madras high court, the lawyers moved to the apex court. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud agreed to list the matter on Friday, February 10. 

Lawyers Against Victoria Gowri's Appointment

The lawyers have apprehensions over Victoria Gowri's judgments that could dent the independence of the judiciary based on her previous remarks. The collegium, comprising Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and KM Joseph, proposed the names of Gowri and four other lawyers for elevation to the high court on January 17. The objection letter by advocates was addressed to President Droupadi Murmu and the SC collegium, and the members of the Madras High Court (HC) Bar Council. 

The 22 lawyers including senior advocates N G R Prasad, R Vaigai, Anna Mathew, D Nagasaila, and Sudha Ramalingam signed the letter. 

The advocates pointed out Gowri's alleged statements against minorities in the past were derogatory and substantiated their statement with two interviews given by Gowri. They gave YouTube links to her two interviews captioned “The more threat to national security and Peace? Jihad or Christian Missionary? and Cultural genocide by Christian Missionaries in Bharat - Victoria Gowri.” Even provided with an article titled “Aggressive baptising destroying social harmony” published in an RSS publication."

Victoria Gowri has 21 years of experience and is the first Woman Lawyer to establish an independent office in Kanyakumari District. Advocate Victoria Gowri is also the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morch. 

However, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions against Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri's elevation as a judge. She was today sworn in as an additional judge of the Madras High Court.

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