Ensure at least 1 judge in Supreme Court is from SC/ST: Athwale to Centre

Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday asked the government to ensure that at least one Supreme Court judge belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe to maintain the judiciary's "representational character".

Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday asked the government to ensure that at least one Supreme Court judge belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe to maintain the judiciary's "representational character".

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Athawale said although successive government's have been "lavish" in their assurances in this regard, no action has been taken.

The RPI chief said that there has been "no accommodation" of any judge belonging to either of the SC/ST community after justice KG Balakrishnan demitted office as Chief Justice of India in 2010.

"In the light of the fact, there is a 5-year-gap in such appointment/elevation when there are two vacancies as on date, the lawful expectation could be fulfilled at least now," the letter said.

Athawale, a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, expressed hope that the NDA government at the Centre would treat the matter with seriousness.