Kochi : Kerala High Court judge Justice B Kemal Pasha today criticised the manner in which High Court judges were appointed, saying appointment of judges was not a family property to be partitioned. In a full court reference held on the eve of his retirement, Justice Kemal Pasha said, "I do not believe that judgeship should be allotted to each and every religion, caste or sub caste." In his address, he said he had learnt from media that some names from the Bar have been recommended for elevation.
"If the names given by the media are correct. I can very well say that most of the judges of this court including me have no good fortune to see even the faces of some of those persons. Is it good for the judiciary?" he asked. Justice Pasha said competent lawyers eligible to be elevated are there among the members of the Bar. "To pick and choose some persons who are not at all competent to be judges and to recommend them for elevation will point fingers towards the system," he said.
He said a judge is being considered as a minister of this temple of justice. "The duty to impart justice is nothing but a divine function also. When persons who have to perform divine functions are to be selected, they should have the capacity for it," Justice Kemal Pasha said. Justice Pasha also criticised judges aspiring for job from government post retirement.
