Govt: 78% judges appointed to HCs from upper castes

NEW DELHI: On a question related to social diversity in higher judicial appointments, law ministry informed Parliament last week that about 78% of judges appointed to different high courts in the last seven years, since 2018, were from upper castes, while minorities and Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes comprised 5% each. Those from OBC category were around 12%.
Responding to a question raised by Manoj Jha of RJD in Lok Sabha on Thursday last, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that out of 715 HC judges appointed since 2018, 22 belong to SC category, 16 to ST, 89 to OBC and 37 from minorities. tnn
Committed to judiciary's diversity, says Meghwal
RJD's Manoj Jha recently pointed out in Lok Sabha that the representation of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and minorities in the higher judiciary remains far below the desired level, and sought a statement from the law minister if govt has taken it up with the apex court. He said that there was a declining trend in the appointment of judges from the marginalised communities in recent years and, if govt had approached Supreme Court (SC) to incorporate social diversity in memorandum of procedure (MoP) for judicial appointments.

"Appointment of judges to SC and high courts is made under Articles 124, 217 and 224 of the Constitution, which do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons," Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a written reply.
The law minister emphasised that govt was committed to enhancing social diversity and since 2018, those recommended for the post of HC judges are required to provide details regarding their social background in the prescribed format (prepared in consultation with SC). " Govt has been requesting chief justices of high courts that while sending proposals for appointment of judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women to ensure social diversity," he said.
However, he said that there was little govt could do since only those persons who are recommended by the SC collegium are appointed as judges of the constitutional courts.
As per the MoP, the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of judges in SC vests with Chief Justice of India, while the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of judges in HCs vests with the chief justice of the concerned HC, he added.