Aspersions should not be cast on appointment of Victoria Gowri as High Court judge: Government

Asked by TMC member Jawhar Sircar whether the appointment of Ms. Gowri was right, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal sought the indulgence of the chair.

Differences of opinion are a part of democracy and there are ways to find solutions to that, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said on February 9 in Rajya Sabha on whether there exists differences between the judiciary and the executive on the issue of appointment of judges.

The government also said aspersions should not be cast on appointment of Victoria Gowri as a judge of the High Court, asserting that she has been appointed through a process.

Victoria Gowri appointment | Two views emerge from Supreme Court on what Collegium considered

Asked by TMC member Jawhar Sircar whether the appointment of Ms. Gowri was right even when she has been accused in public of making casteist remarks, of remarks against minorities, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal sought the indulgence of the chair.

"I think there should be some decorum. An honourable judge has been duly appointed through a process. I don't think we, as honourable members here, should be casting aspersions of this nature. I seek your indulgence," Mr. Goyal said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the three wings of the State have to act in tandem and “we must have mutual respect for them”. “All three ultimately have to get together to fructify our goals. When it comes to judiciary, with respect to which a judgement of the highest court has already come. I am sure that issue should be kept away.

"I would urge the honourable member to ask his supplementary in a pointed manner keeping in mind the provisions that judicial situations have to be addressed in a delicate manner," he said. The Chairman also told the TMC member that he was making reference to an individual who is not a member of the House.