Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday, 24 December, pitched for reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the judiciary, through a selection process headed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
While he made the statement at an event organised by All india Lawyers Board in Lucknow, he further told The Times of India that the judicial services examination can be on the lines of civil services, where there is reservation for the socially backward classes.
“The judicial services examination, if conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, can be on the lines of the intake for the civil services where there is reservation for SCs and STs. Those selected can be allotted states to serve in and reservation will create opportunities for well-trained judicial officers from deprived sections who will, over time, rise to higher positions…”Ravi Shankar Prasad to The Times of India
This is not the first time that a member of the central government is pitching for reservation in judiciary. According to Live Law, Prasad's statement comes right after the Niti Ayog report – Strategy for New India @75 – which also calls for similar reservation.
The report also suggested that the selection process to be "entrusted" to UPSC for lower judiciary judges and Indian Legal Service, prosecutors, legal advisors and legal draftsmen.
(With inputs from The Times of India, Live Law)
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