Five new additional judges of the Madras High Court including L Victoria Gowri would be administered oath of office at 10.35 am today.

The swearing in of Victoria Gowri becomes significant and looked for in light of the fact that a petition challenging her appointment is slated to be heard by the Supreme Court today. The Writ Patition is listed as item 38 in court No.7 before a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundresh.

The Writ petition has been filed by three lawyers practicing in the Madras High Court on concerns that advocate Gowri had allegedly exhibited “strong prejudice” against citizens on the ground of their religious affiliation. 

This petition was mentioned before the court of Chief Justice of India today by Sr. Advocate Raju Ramchandran and the same was directed to be listed today by observing that that certain material relating to Gowri came to the Collegium's notice only after the recommendation was made

It is stated in the writ petition that “the petitioners respectfully submit that the strong prejudice shown by Respondent No. 4 [Victoria Gowri] through her vitriolic comments against Muslim and Christian citizens are antithetical to the fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India. Such prejudice will threaten their access to justice".

Her remarks against Islam and Christianity which are available on YouTube also kicked up a storm.

In a video from February 2018, titled More Threat to National Security & Peace? Jihad or Christian Missionary? - Answers Victoria Gowri, Gowri is seen saying, "Like Islam is green terror, Christianity is white terror." and "Christian groups are more dangerous than Islam groups. Both are equally dangerous in the context of love jihad," Gowri can be heard saying in the interview.

The Supreme Court had canceled such kind of appointment 30 years back also before the oath in 1992 of Advocate KN Srivastav who was to take oath as Judge of Guwahati High Court. He had allegations of corruption.

The other four judges who will sworn in are (1) Pillaipakkam Bahukutumbi Balaji, (2) Kandhasami Kulandaivelu Ramakrishnan, (3) Ramachandran Kalaimathi and (4) K Govindarajan Thilakavadi.

W.P.(C) No. 148/2023
PIL-W
ANNA MATHEW AND ORS.
Versus
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA AND ORS

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