The Glass Ceiling in the High Courts
Research shows judges appointed from the subordinate courts were appointed later, had shorter terms and therefore unlikely to become chief justices
While the Constitution makes no distinction between judges appointed from the Bar or from the subordinate judiciary, the data shows that there is an implicit difference that results in fewer members from the subordinate judiciary serving in the high courts for shorter periods of time, and less likely to be the chief justices.
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About the Author
Alok Prasanna Kumar is Co-Founder and Lead, Vidhi Karnataka. His areas of research include judicial reforms, Constitutional law, urban development, and law and technology. He graduated with a B.A. LL.B. (Hons) from the NALSAR University in 2008 and obtained the BCL from the University of Oxford in 2009. He writes a monthly column for the Economic and Political Weekly and has published in the Indian Journal of Constitutional Law and National Law School of India Review apart from media outlets such as The Hindu, Indian Express, Scroll, Quint and Caravan. He has practiced in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court from the chambers of Mr Mohan Parasaran, and currently also co-hosts the Ganatantra podcast on IVM Podcasts.