Religious expertise of a candidate must be made as one of the eligibility criteria for appointment of judges to the high court, according to the Temples Protection Movement (TPM), Hyderabad.
In a representation made to the Union government in response to suggestions for improvement of the collegium system of judicial appointments, TMP convenor M.V. Soundararajan said their submission was being made on behalf of crores of devotees. He said a better understanding of laws relating to religion will help a judge in proper dispensation of justice in religious matters.
Hundreds of suggestions are pouring from across the country and the Centre has taken up the responsibility to compile the suggestions and present them to the court during the hearing on November 18.
He requested the Constitution bench to consider their views and either add religious expertise defined by the Hindu Religious Endowments Commission, headed by eminent jurist C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, as one of the eligibility criteria for appointment of judges or consider their view on essential practices doctrine to ensure future judgments as per the principle “Yato Dharmastha Jayaha” to protect Hindu religion from mindless experimentation and reform which is critical for the very survival of Hindu temples in the country.
