‘Judge selection panel should be inclusive’

Delivering his farewell address on Wednesday, he said representatives from scheduled communities, women and minorities should be involved in the process of selecting judges. He said that besides the three-judge collegiums which shortlist names for appointment of judges to High Courts, members from these sections of the society should be involved to achieve social justice in judiciary. 

Also, demanding immediate withdrawal of the suspension of 40 Tamil Nadu lawyers, he said in the recent violent incidents in Patiala Court complex, the Bar Council of India Chairman said that action against those lawyers would be initiated depending upon the outcome of inquiry. But the lawyers form Tamil Nadu have been suspended by the Bar without inquiry. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of their suspension. 

Also expressing his views on threats to freedom of speech, Justice Hari Paranthaman said that freedom should be total. The ‘reasonable restrictions’ imposed on freedom of speech, under Article 19(2) of the Constitution should be completely removed, he said. 

With the retirement of Justice Hari Parantham, the number of judges in Madras High Court drops to 34 against the sanctioned strength of 75.