In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Monday advanced to February 7 the hearing on a plea challenging the appointment of lawyer Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri as a judge of the Madras High Court, soon after the Centre notified her judgeship.
The apex court had earlier in the day agreed to hear on February 10 the petition against her elevation but the matter was mentioned again and the hearing was fixed for Tuesday by a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud which said the collegium has taken note of “certain developments” after her name was recommended to the Centre.
During the second mention, the bench was apprised by senior advocate Raju Ramachandran that the Centre has notified the appointment of Gowri as an additional judge of the Madras High Court and urged for urgent intervention.
The proposal to elevate the woman lawyer, who has been representing the Centre before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, has been mired in controversy after reports emerged about her alleged affiliation to the BJP.
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