New Delhi: At a felicitation ceremony organized by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) in honor of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, the issue of judicial appointments and the balance between the judiciary and the bar took center stage.
Bar Highlights Judicial Appointment Imbalance
N. Hariharan, President of DHCBA, highlighted concerns over the perceived neglect of advocates in the judicial elevation process. Presenting statistics, he stated that approximately 47,000 advocates practice at the Delhi High Court, yet only three members from the bar have been elevated to the bench in the last 17 months.
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Hariharan clarified the intention of the bar:
“While we welcome these appointments, the current perception is that the appointment of judges from the bar has become an exception rather than the rule. Our intention is not to question any individual appointment, but we are simply appealing for balance and fairness.”
In addition to judicial appointments, he emphasized infrastructure challenges at the High Court. Hariharan pointed out that the lack of adequate resources is contributing to the ever-increasing backlog of cases, urging that these issues require immediate attention.
CJI Surya Kant Responds Positively
In response, CJI Surya Kant adopted a constructive and receptive approach. He acknowledged the concerns raised by the Bar Association and assured that the system would address these issues over time.
The CJI also lauded the historical contributions of the DHCBA, citing the courage of the bar during Justice H.R. Khanna’s tenure. He recalled the instance of Pran Nath Lekhi being elected as Bar President while imprisoned during Justice Khanna’s supersession, emphasizing the bar’s role as a guardian of constitutional conscience.
“Professional bodies should always act as guardians of the constitutional conscience, and the Delhi High Court Bar has proven this time and again,” CJI Surya Kant said.
Key Takeaways
- The DHCBA appealed for more equitable representation of lawyers in judicial appointments.
- Infrastructure constraints in the High Court are aggravating the backlog of cases.
- CJI Surya Kant acknowledged the issues and praised the bar’s historical contributions to upholding constitutional values.
The interaction reflects an ongoing dialogue between the judiciary and legal professionals, aimed at strengthening institutional processes and ensuring fair representation in judicial appointments.
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