CJI Chandrachud also said that a lawyer appearing for or espousing a political cause does not disable her from judgeship.
“Lawyers across their careers appear for a cross section of clients. Lawyers don’t choose their clients. In fact, it is my firm belief that as a lawyer, your duty bound to appear for whoever comes to you in search of legal aid, much as a doctor has to administer medical aid to whoever comes to their clinic. You don’t presume the guilt or the lack of guilt of people who come to you,” CJI Chandrachud said.
In this regard, he also highlighted the case of Justice VR Krishna Iyer.
“One of our greatest judges, Justice Krishna Iyer, who came out with some of the finest judgments, had a political background,” said the 50th CJI.
Justice Gowri’s elevation was mired in controversy in light of her alleged affiliation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when she was a lawyer.
An unverified Twitter account allegedly belonging to Gowri claimed in its bio that she was the National General Secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha.
Pertinently, her remarks against Islam and Christianity, which are available on YouTube, also kicked up a storm.
CJI Chandrachud was speaking at the Center for Legal Profession, Harvard Law School on October 21.
“Why the Collegium at least on the administrative side was not able to withdraw that recommendation,” he was asked at the event.
Source: Barandbench
