SC dismisses plea challenging Victoria Gowri's appointment; takes oath

New Delhi: Supreme Court Tuesday dismissed the petitions challenging Victoria Gowri's appointment as Madras High Court judge.

Gowri took oath as additional judge of Madras High Court even as the hearing was in progress.

A special bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai heard the matter at 10:30 am.

On Monday, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had in the forenoon put the plea of three Madras HC lawyers opposing the proposed appointment of Gowri for hearing on February 10 but later advanced it to February 7 after senior advocate Raju Ramachandran again mentioned it, saying the Centre has notified her appointment.

The petitioner lawyers, Anna Mathew, Sudha Ramalingam and D Nagasaila, in their plea referred to the alleged hate speeches made by Gowri against Muslims and Christians.

The plea said, "The petitioners are seeking appropriate interim orders injuncting the 4th Respondent (Gowri) from taking the oath of office as a judge of the High Court, in view of the grave threat to the independence of the judiciary."