Plea against Victoria Gowri appointment: Supreme Court holds early morning hearing [LIVE UPDATES]

In an unlikely turn of events, the Supreme Court is holding a sitting at 9.15 am today to hear the petition challenging appointment of advocate Victoria Gowri as a judge of the Madras High Court.

The early morning hearing was necessitated because of the fact that Gowri's swearing in of Gowri is scheduled to take place in Madras High Court at 10.35 am.

Gowri has been in the eye of the storm ever since the Collegium recommended her elevation to the Madras High Court on January 17.

This kicked off discussion in legal circles and on social media about Gowri's credentials and her alleged affiliation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

An unverified Twitter account allegedly belonging to Gowri claimed in its bio that she was the National General Secretary of BJP Mahila Morcha. A tweet from this handle, posted on August 31, 2019, says, "I just joined the BJP, you too can join the BJP and join hands to help create a New India!"

Pertinently, her remarks against Islam and Christianity which are available on YouTube also kicked up a storm.

In a video from February 2018, titled More Threat to National Security & Peace? Jihad or Christian Missionary? - Answers Victoria Gowri, Gowri is seen saying,

"Like Islam is green terror, Christianity is white terror."

"Christian groups are more dangerous than Islam groups. Both are equally dangerous in the context of love jihad," Gowri can be heard saying in the interview.

A petition has been filed by three lawyers practicing in the Madras High Court on concerns that advocate Gowri had allegedly exhibited “strong prejudice” against citizens on the ground of their religious affiliation.  

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud had allowed urgent listing of the case stating that certain material relating to Gowri came to the Collegium's notice only after the recommendation was made.

The matter was listed as item 38 for today before a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundresh.

However, Madras High Court decided to proceed with the swearing in despite the top court being seized of the plea prompting the early morning hearing.

Live Updates from the hearing below.