The Union government is advocating for increased social diversity in judicial appointments, urging the Madras High Court collegium to consider candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), minority communities, and women when recommending names for High Court judgeships. Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal has formally requested the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court to ensure appropriate representation for these groups.

This request follows a recent decision by the Supreme Court collegium to send back a list of nine advocates previously recommended by the Madras High Court collegium, asking for a fresh review. The initial list included Krishnaswamy Govindarajan, E V Chandru alias E Chandrasekaran, P V Balasubramaniam, N C Ashok Kumar, R Gandhi, Hasan Mohamed Jinnah, M P Senthil, J Chandra Sundar Sashikumar, and E Manoharan.

Data from recent years indicates a growing trend toward diversification in High Court appointments. Between November 2022 and May 2025, 192 judges were appointed across various High Courts, with significant representation from traditionally underrepresented sections of society. Specifically, 16% of these appointees belonged to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), 15.9% were from minority communities, 17.5% were women, 4% were from Scheduled Castes (SCs), 3.6% from Scheduled Tribes (STs), and 3.6% from Most Backward Classes (MBCs).

The Madras High Court has demonstrated a notable commitment to social diversity in recent appointments. Of the 17 appointees approved by the Supreme Court Collegium during the tenures of former Chief Justices of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjiv Khanna, 15 (88.2%) belonged to Backward Classes (BC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), or Scheduled Tribes (ST). This is the highest share among 24 High Courts in that period. In fact, the Madras High Court accounted for 33% of all approved appointees from the OBC category and 25% of all approved appointees from the SC category nationwide.

The Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of considering inputs from the state when selecting judges, and the Madras High Court appointments reflect this approach. States like Tamil Nadu, with a significant OBC population, often have political environments and social policies that encourage the inclusion of non-general categories in key positions.

The judiciary's composition and diversity are crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring that the legal system fairly represents the interests of all segments of society. The Supreme Court has actively monitored the progress of judicial appointments and transfers in High Courts to maintain transparency and accountability.