9 new SC judges welcome

The Union government’s decision to accept the list of nine names recommended by the Supreme Court collegium to be appointed judges in the apex court sends out mixed signals. On the face of it, it has several welcome features, which includes the presence of three women, one of whom has the chance to become the first woman Chief Justice of India. The addition of nine judges in one go will almost fill the vacancies in the Supreme Court as it will now have 33 judges against the sanctioned strength of 34.

There are a lot of justice-seekers in the country who will now heave a sigh of relief at the sight of the apex court returning to its normal functioning with its near-full strength but it remains a matter of grave concern that no judge was appointed to the court in the last two years despite vacancies arising out of retirements. It is not very ideal for us as a democracy to paper over this fact and be content with the new appointments. The addition of three women judges does not tilt the balance in favour of women who hold half the sky; it takes their share to just 10 per cent! India, as a nation, must remind itself that, otherwise, very ordinary and routine accomplishments are presented before its people as great achievements in the 75th year of its Independence and hence must strive towards setting up corrective mechanisms.

Some eminent jurists of our country have expressed their anguish about the omission of deserving talents who would have served the cause of justice better sitting in the Supreme Court. They point to a certain pattern whereby those who have decided cases against the powers-that-be are routinely made to suffer. Their voices should not be allowed to die out in the wild; all those concerned about the survival and success of the republic must lend their ear to them instead.