871 Why does judicial acumen and efficiency prevail only in one or two landed castes of Andhra Pradesh? If selection is done on only merit basis, persons of random castes should get appointed!

The retirement of Chief Justice of India Shri T.S. Thakur gave me considerable sadness. He and his Collegium Team, steadfastly, resisted the attempts of the bourgeoisie parties to make High Courts and Supreme Court malleable and pliable. But, people -howsoever- invaluable their contributions and services may be, are bound to retire (except politicians). Indian Media, sometimes, acts with extreme alertness and concerns, and sometimes with least alertness and concern though the situation in the country demands. Example of one such extreme alertness on the part of Media is, it noticed that Justice Chelameswar, one of the Collegium Judges was absent, in the farewell party of Justice Thakur. Click here to go to http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-will-pray-for-judiciary-to-remain-fearless-says-cji-thakur-in-farewell-speech-justice-khehar-363541 and study the news. Public does not know the reason for the conspicuous absence of the Senior Judge and Collegium Member Justice Chelameswar, at the farewell meeting of Justice Thakur. It is just a matter of COURTESY. There may be genuine reasons such as self-illness, illness of relatives etc. for his absence. We cannot draw hasty conclusions. There also seems to be some past history. Here is a New Indian Express link: Click here to go to the Indian Express.com. http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/justice-chelameswar-wrote-to-cji-ts-thakur-collegium-transparency-judges-appointment-son-link-3045260/

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views, which are not intended to be imposed on others

1. What has caused me anxiety is not the differences of opinion / dissensions among Collegium of Supreme Court Judges. These are quite natural, when intellectuals with independent opinions meet at a place. What has raised my anxiety levels, are the following lines, from the Indian Express News report, for which link was given above:-

"... The Indian Express spoke to two judges who were members of the collegium when Justice Naidu, who is also related to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu through marriage, was elevated from the Bar to the Bench. They confirmed that it had been decided while appointing him that, in the interest of justice, he would be transferred out of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Among the reasons given for this decision was the fact that he had professional links with Justice Chelameswar’s son and his relationship with Chief Minister Naidu. ..."

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Reddys, Kammas, Kapus and Velamas are the principal landed castes of United Andhra Pradesh (Telangana State, Residual Andhra Pradesh State). From the names of the sitting judges belonging to Telugu States, of various High Courts and Supreme Courts, it appears that only landed castes are becoming Judges. If the Collegium System really gave great consideration to merit, a random distribution of castes of judges ought to have taken place. This is because merit and geniuses are not born only in landed castes, but also in all castes. It is difficult to say that only landed castes are studying law, becoming great advocates of jurisprudence, and champions of rules of law, and are drawing the attention of High CJIs and Collgium of Supreme Court for elevation to Higher courts.

NATIONAL JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION also might not have helped.

Reason: In case of Civil Services Examination where there is an elaborate system of Preliminary Examination Final Examination, and lengthy interview mechanism, we find that sons/daughters of IAS Officers become IAS Officers, sons/daughters of IPS Officers becoming IPS Officers (etc.). There is something wrong in the Indian Psyche itself, which facilitates dynastic successions, and appointment of kith and kin.

There is a general impression among some members of public that Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, can swim through the Indian judicial system quite easily, to conquer/ wade out of petitions filed seeking inquiries against him in respect of allegations of corruptions. Once, this type of discussion took place in A.P. Assembly also. But then, the allegation was from the Opposition Leader Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy who was himself facing both allegations of corruption and Judicial trials. I am not sure, if the alleger himself-herself is tainted, then his allegations should also be considered as tainted.

That impression of the additional capabilities of Mr. Naidu, may be incorrect. The Opposition Leaders, and those who are jealous of the achievements of Mr. Naidu, may be creating such bad publicity. Yet, there is an adage, Justice should not only be done, but also appear to have been done. It will be apt for the Judicial System Top Authorities to dispel erroneous impressions in public. Landed caste persons getting appointed to High Courts and Supreme Courts may also give an impression that as Rulers belong to landed castes, and the Judges belong to landed castes (often same caste), they are all one.

WHY NOT SUPREME COURT PLACE ON ITS WEBSITE, NAMES OF SUPREME COURT AND HIGH COURT JUDGES, WHO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS / BUSINESS CONNECTIONS / PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS / OTHER SIMILAR INTERESTS WITH INDIAN MPS / MINISTERS SUPREME COURT JUDGES?

It is high time that this type of Judicial transparency is introduced about the relationships between politicians and Judges inter se, into our Judicial System.

LINKs to PREVIOUS POSTS at this blog ON A SIMILAR SUBJECT

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More to write. To continue. सशेष. ఇంకా ఉంది.