Merit Must Guide Judges' Selections

Justice CT Ravikumar, who retired as a Supreme Court judge on January 5 following a three-year tenure, on Wednesday underscored the primacy of merit in judicial appointments, dismissing the idea of reservation for marginalized communities in constitutional courts despite hailing from a Scheduled Caste background.

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In an interview, he also spoke to Utkarsh Anand about the evolving landscape of the judiciary, docket explosion, the role of AI, and the scrutiny brought about by social media. Edited excerpts:

Your journey from a modest background to the Supreme Court exemplifies resilience and determination. Do you believe the judiciary has enough mechanisms to ensure diversity on the bench, particularly representation from marginalized communities?

My simple answer is that the judiciary does have this mechanism, and I believe it will continue to exist. If it weren't so, I wouldn't have been in this position. But people from marginalized communities must make themselves fit enough to come within the zone of consideration. Regardless of background and source of appointment, everyone elevated as a judge has to perform the same duties. Therefore, competence and qualification are paramount. It's your responsibility to ensure that you are fit for the role, and it is then up to others to identify and elevate deserving individuals.

Coming from a Scheduled Caste community, what challenges did you face in ascending the judicial ladder?

It was challenging, especially as a first-generation lawyer. Starting from Mavelikara (a small town in Kerala's Alappuzha district) and transitioning to practice in the high court was not easy, particularly due to financial constraints and the lack of professional support. I had to build everything from scratch. My wife's unwavering support was pivotal during difficult times. She stood by me as a pillar, sharing both pain and joy, and that made all the difference.

At your farewell event, you expressed gratitude to Justice KG Balakrishnan, the first Chief Justice of India from a Scheduled Caste background. With Justice Bhushan R Gavai set to become the second CJI of India belonging to a marginalized community, how do you view this milestone?