SC Report Calls for Ending Discriminatory Job Titles in Judiciary
- A Supreme Court report urges the judiciary to stop using archaic and discriminatory job titles such as halalkhor, dhobi, scavenger, coolie, masalchi, malan, and others.
- The report, titled “Reforming administrative nomenclature in the Indian judiciary: Embedding dignity and equity in service rules,” argues that these terms perpetuate a “grammar of inequality” rooted in feudal, colonial, and caste-based systems.
- The report aims to “align the language of the administration with the language of the Constitution” to reaffirm that language is the judiciary’s “first act of justice.”
- The report notes that terms such as halalkhor and scavenger violate constitutional protections against caste-based discrimination.
53rd Chief Justice of India
- Justice Surya Kant will take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI).
- He will succeed Justice B.R. Gavai.
- He was appointed on October 30 and will serve for nearly 15 months, demitting office on February 9, 2027 upon turning 65.
Chief Justice of India
- Appointment: A Supreme Court judge, including the CJI, is appointed by the President under Article 124 (2).
- The outgoing CJI recommends the senior-most Supreme Court judge based on length of service as the next CJI (a customary practice, not a legal requirement).
- Qualification: To qualify as CJI, one must be a citizen of India, have served as a High Court judge for 5 years or as an advocate for 10 years, or be a distinguished jurist in the President’s opinion.
- Tenure: The CJI holds office until the age of 65 years, with no fixed tenure, as it depends on the judge’s date of appointment and retirement.
- The CJI can only be removed by the President after an address by Parliament, supported by a special majority in both Houses.
