L C Victoria Gowri sworn in as Madras HC judge; SC declines to stay oath

Gowri faced opposition from a section of legal fraternity for her alleged 'hate speech' against minorities

Lakshmana Victoria Gowri, a BJP functionary before she became an additional solicitor general, was sworn in as an additional judge of the Madras High Court on Tuesday.

Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Justice T Raja, administered the oath of office to Gowri (49) at 10.46 am, minutes before the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging her appointment as a judge referring to her past political affiliation and “hate speeches.”

Justice Raja also administered the oath of office to P B Balaji, K K Ramakrishnan, Ramachandran Kalaimathi and K Govindarajan Thilakavadi, whose names were also notified by the Union Government for appointment as additional judges of the Madras High Court.

The swearing-in ceremony, which was scheduled at 10.35 am, was delayed by five minutes and began once the ACJ and other judges assembled at the hall. Gowri was sworn-in first after which others took the oath.

In her brief speech, Justice Gowri spoke about her “humble origins” from a “normal family” in the Kanyakumari district and thanked the judges of the Madras High Court and the Collegium for recommending her name and accepting it respectively.

“I am conscious and fully aware that the greatest responsibility I am handed over today of being a judge is only to heed to the unheard and oppressed voices of the poorest of the poor (and) to liberate the marginalised,” she said. The newly sworn-in judge also said she “bowed to the noble feet” of her husband for standing by her.

Justice Gowri’s swearing-in took place amid uncertainty as the Supreme Court was hearing the petition against her elevation around the same time. However, the Supreme Court ruled in her favour after the swearing-in was over.

Scores of lawyers who assembled at the Madras High Court premises protested against Gowri’s appointment as an additional judge, pointing to her past political affiliation and “hate speech” against minorities. CPI(M) cadres also protested outside the court premises against the judge’s appointment.