Law minister lauds common test for lower judiciary roles

Whether it is Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Muslims or Jains, everybody should be proud of his own religion to be an Indian...that is what the Constitution is all about.

Union law and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hailed on Tuesday the initiative of Supreme Court to make recruitment in subordinate judiciary more transparent.

Speaking at the Independence Day celebration organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Prasad said there was a need to have a “good intake in the lower courts by a more stricter selection process” and that the common entrance test pushed by the SC was an initiative in this regard. Nine high courts have objected to a plan for a countrywide exam for appointments to the lower judiciary.

States and HCs have not favoured it because the new system will take away their administrative control over the trial courts, which they say would be against the concept of federalism underlined in the Constitution. Prasad allayed their fears saying, “I know its a subjudice matter. But its a fact that the subordinate judiciary needs to have a better intake. I fully endorse and compliment the SC for its efforts.”

In his address, CJI Khehar spoke on the concerns over nepotism in appointments. Responding to SCBA president RS Suri’s claim that only judges’ sons got appointed as judges, CJI said: “what appears to be a blatant misuse of authority may not be so.”

“There are wise children whether children of judges, Dalits or Brahmins in this country. We stand together to achieve what we achieve,” he said. “I am proud to be in country which allows people to take pride in their religion. I m proud to be a Sikh by birth and by choice,” he said.